That’s Freighter, people. Aviation Week takes a look at Airbus’ work http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_awst_story.jsp?id=news/021306p1.xml on the new A380F cargo jet, and the looming competition between it and Boeing’s new 747-8F.

Key Quote: “The A380-800F is an integral element of Airbus’s A380 strategy … the freighter will most probably be very similar to the so-called A380-900, a stretched, nearly 80-meter-long passenger aircraft that would nominally seat 650. Detailed design work on the -900 hasn’t been done and a program launch is still years away. … Additionally, there are economic incentives for Airbus to want to see the A380F trounce Boeing’s cargo offerings, including … the 747-8F. The margins on freighter aircraft are generally higher than for passenger models, so success with the freighter could help Airbus at a time its higher-margin wide-body business is lagging…”

The Airbus advantage? The A380 is bigger, and has a longer range. But Boeing has an edge too: its jet is better able to carry dense cargo — say machinery or electronics. Analysts say that’s why the biggest buyers of the A380F so far have been package carriers like FedEx and UPS. They’re carrying a relatively lightweight cargo — say, boxes of chocolates for overnight delivery or bundles of Valentine’s Day cards — so they can stuff the big tube full.

And sonuvagun … Flight International http://www.flightinternational.com/Articles/2006/02/14/Navigation/177/204691/Boeing+747-8+vs+A380+A+titanic+tussle.html has a more-detailed side-by-side comparison of the two new big jets. (This is what I get for logging onto my favorite search engine before I go home for the evening.)

Key Quote: “Boeing’s decision to finally join its rival in the ultra-large-aircraft sector has livened up the proceedings, after Airbus had things its own way for five years. It will be another five years at least until it becomes clear who has got it right, but one thing is for certain – the airlines at last have what they always wanted and that is a choice of supplier at the top end of the size spectrum.”