King vs. Queen: Comparing the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747
Canva graphic comparing Airbus A380 to Boeing 747 (Nadia E.S. Saadeh / The Puma Prensa)
Canva graphic comparing Airbus A380 to Boeing 747. Created by Nadia E. S. Saadeh
By Nadia Sadeeh, Staff Writer
The Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 are both iconic planes that have changed aviation and left a lasting impact on the world of airlines. The big question is: which one is better and why? In this article, we will be comparing these planes in different categories, including the flightdeck (cockpit) controls, size, speed, and impact on aviation.
Flightdeck
Canva graphic comparing the A380 flightdeck to the B747 flightdeck (Nadia E. S. Saadeh / The Puma Prensa)
The Boeing 747 flightdeck’s most prominent feature is the steering controls, called yokes, that sit in front of the pilot’s legs. Yokes are like the steering wheel in cars, and control the direction of the plane. Note how the Boeing seats have space for the yokes to move backwards. The Airbus A380 uses arcade-like sidesticks on the front left and front right of the seats. The absence of the yolks gives room for small tables that have keyboards for typing. This gives Airbus pilots more legroom and comfortable dining.
Size and Speed
Impact on Aviation
Both the 747 and A380 have had a large impact on aviation. They were the first jumbo jets, and are the most iconic passenger planes. However, the 747 is more well-known as the first jumbo jet and Queen of the Skies. The 747 is just more iconic and recognizable than the A380.
Boeing 747 graphic from Boeing’s Website (courtesy of the Boeing Website)
Personal Opinion and Conclusion
In my personal opinion, I like the 747 more and it is my favorite plane. It just has a more sleek, majestic look that can be easily recognizable. This is not to downplay the A380, as it also has a unique, iconic look, but I still like the 747 more. Obviously this is not all there is to know about the A380 and B747, this is more generalized. If you still have questions and would like to know more about the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, you can watch this video.