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A380 Blade Off Test

A380 Blade Off Test on HackerTube: recommended by 1 Hacker News commenter across 1 month, 2010–2026.

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Footage of an Airbus A380 engine blade-off test, in which a fan blade is deliberately released at full thrust to show the engine contains the failure.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Linked in aviation threads to show that engines are designed to contain a failed fan blade.

people recommended it
1
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1
strong recommendations
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discussed on HN
2010–2026
“There are much longer versions on YT, e.g. this one [0] which covers it in more detail”
— hazeii, Feb 2021, in “United B772 at Denver on Feb 20th 2021, engine inlet separates from engine”

What HN commenters said

4 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

hazeiiFeb 2021Recommends

They normally have high-speed cameras running; that short video is a mish-mash of super-slow-mo and regular speed footage. There are much longer versions on YT, e.g. this one [0] which covers it in more detail (watch the people in the room jump when it blows - despite being a fair distance away). [0] ▶ this video

in “United B772 at Denver on Feb 20th 2021, engine inlet separates from engine” · View on HN

KennyBlankenJul 2026Cites it

> A failure in these blades would be catastrophic, resulting in the destruction of the engine, likely followed by the plane itself. Aaaaand the author just lost any credibility with me whatsoever. This is someone who knows big words, maybe did some research and ChatGPTing, and doesn't actually know shit about aircraft or their engines. On passenger aircraft because passengers sit directly inline with the path a blade with insane levels of kinetic energy will probably go, the nacelle is designed to contain it. The engine must be able to contain a "blade off" event where a blade snaps during full rated thrust. Two videos: ▶ this video [link] The aircraft will not be "destroyed." The blade could fail during takeoff climb and the plane would still be able to climb because all twin engine passenger jet aircraft must be able to conduct all phases of flight on one engine. SWA 1380 had a passenger fatality not because of the blade hitting them, but because part of the cowling disintegrated, broke the window, and she was partially sucked out of the aircraft, which killed her. If she'd been wearing her seatbelt, she would likely be alive today. As would several other passengers who, over the years, have been killed by debris breaking the window and them being sucked out. The blade itself did not leave the engine. [link] That article lists a number of incidents, in roughly half of which the blade was contained. All the flights made it back to an airport...

in “Why Jet Engines Aren't "Made in China"” · View on HN

sandworm101Feb 2021Cites it

fan blade failures are expected. Engines are designed to contain failed blades. There is a huge test that is done whereby a blade is "failed" at full throttle. Engine dies but damage is to be contained. ▶ this video (A380 "blade off" test, rare footage of giant engine failing)

in “United B772 at Denver on Feb 20th 2021, engine inlet separates from engine” · View on HN

yreadNov 2010Cites it

the engines are designed to contain a fan blade[1], not a turbine disk [2]. Fan blade is a thin piece of light alloy where turbine disk is solid piece of steel. [1] ▶ this video [2] [link]

in “Qantas keeps A380s grounded over engine 'anomalies'” · View on HN

Topics & tags

Aviation & aerospace engineeringMechanical & precision engineeringa380blade-off testengine containmentaviationcertification