What is this thing in this Airbus 380 picture?

[el_chester 4]

I was having a discussion with a friend about what is trailing from the top of the rudder of this A380 in this picture, and what it's used for.

http://www.airfleets.net/show/?pic=61612

Anybody knowledgeable fancy settle our dispute?

--
Be careful giving advice. Wise men don't need it, and fools won't heed it.

[NWFlyer 2]

It's the flux capacitor.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Kris 0]

Lightning rod?

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[Remster 30]

Dirty Messican Detector?

Remster

[Samurai136 0]

attitude detector.

Obviously, the plane is in level flight.

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[StreetScooby 5]

It's the safety harness for the guy who just finished painting the tail.

We are all engines of karma

[AggieDave 6]

Its the towed sonar array.

Or its the trailing profits of the company thats about to loose its ass due to their poor marketing decisions to build a super-jumbo-jet.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[SkyTango 0]

The reason you have to cock the pilot chute on the airbrake system

JC

If you woke up breathing, congratulations!
You get another chance.

[Kris 0]

Quote

Dirty Messican Detector?

Watch it, you French frog. You don't have your superpowers anymore!

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[Remster 30]

[mech voice] meep meep pull up pull up[/mech voice]

Remster

[tdog 0]

on a complete side note... Is that plane not bigger, or almost the same size, passenger capacity wise, as a 747 - yet without that hump on the front end, or a small plane next to it, it looks like a 737 or something.

See the attached photo that puts it in perspective.

[Samurai136 0]

Quote

Its the towed sonar array.

Or its the trailing profits of the company thats about to loose its ass due to their poor marketing decisions to build a super-jumbo-jet.

naw, I think it's the Radio Buoy.

Or it could be a receiver for Tesla's wireless power transmistter.

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[htrammel 0]

Looks like a pitot tube. When aircraft are in test flight stage they often tow an air pressure sensor well behind the plane where it is clear of any turbulent air. It makes sure that they are getting accurate readings from their airspeed and altimeter.

[Sockpuppet 0]

its an An-2.

------
Two of the three voices in my head agree with you. It might actually be unanimous but voice three only speaks Welsh.

[AggieDave 6]

You know, I had a thought that it could have been an AN-2 in tow, which we all know is one of the worst malfunctions you could possibly have...I wonder if the pilots made it out ok?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[NWFlyer 2]

Quote

You know, I had a thought that it could have been an AN-2 in tow, which we all know is one of the worst malfunctions you could possibly have...I wonder if the pilots made it out ok?

Did they have an AAD?

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[godfrog 2]

thats for sky skiing. thats the tow rope!

Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward

[shropshire 0]

It's the life line that Airbus are throwing to Boeing

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[wmw999 2,479]

Aren't you glad you asked on dz.com?

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[StreetScooby 5]

Quote

It's the life line that AirbusBoeing are throwing to BoeingAirbus

Ahem, fixed it for you

We are all engines of karma

[shropshire 0]

Funny man........

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[skydiverbrian 0]

one of the funniest threads in awhile

In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal

[Skyrad 0]

LMAO

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[CSpenceFLY 1]

It's a VW Bug.

[skydiver30960 0]

Quote

It's the flux capacitor.

1.21 gigawatts? 1.21 GIGAWATTS???!!!



Elvisio "ah yes, I remember it well." Rodriguez