A380 to LHR

[Stanstedeye]

Heathrow will welcome the world's largest commercial airliner, the A380 on Wednesday 18th May, when it makes its British debut to carry out airport compatibility checks. The Rolls-Royce Trent powered (and 60% British made componets) A380, will land on Heathrow's southern runway & will park at terminal 3, on pier 6.

[adz555666]

18th is a Thursday not a Wednesday!

Hope it's still on Thursday as I've booked the day off to see it!!

Best Wishes

Adam

[Dave Spart]

www.atbn.co.uk (http://www.atbn.co.uk)

BAA HEATHROW will welcome the world's largest commercial airliner, the
Airbus A380, on Wednesday 18 May, when it makes its British debut to
carry out airport compatibility checks. The Rolls-Royce Trent powered
(and 60% British by components) A380, will arrive on Heathrow's
southern runway and will park at Terminal 3, Pier 6

[LB1985]

From the BAA website, it appears to be 18 May - so Thursday:

A380 to make its British debut at BAA Heathrow

26 April 2006

BAA Heathrow will welcome the world’s largest commercial airliner, the Airbus A380, on 18 May 2006, when it makes its British debut to carry out airport compatibility checks.

The A380 will arrive on Heathrow’s Southern Runway and will park at Terminal 3, Pier 6 - a new purpose built £100 million facility that is a 280 metre long, three-storey high pier which can accommodate up to four A380s at a time.
During its UK visit, BAA and Airbus will be carrying out ground handling and airport compatibility trials, which will help to ensure that everything is ready for aircraft’s entry into service. Airlines planning to operate the A380 at Heathrow include the first to begin scheduled service - Singapore Airlines – for whom deliveries are scheduled before year end; as well as Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

Airbus programmes generate around 140,000 direct and indirect jobs in the UK. At least 22,000 of these jobs result from the A380 - with the figures increasing further when taking into account UK engine manufacturing through Rolls-Royce and its supply chain – which provides the Trent 900 engine as an option on the A380. More than 400 companies throughout the UK are contributing to the A380 programme.

When: Thursday 18 May 2006
Time: 12:00

[WHBM]

The 60% British components is an interesting figure, possibly makes it more British than the 146 ! It may be assembled in Toulouse, but I recall an old adage "final assembly is 5% of the revenue and 95% of the problems". Of course you get more political street cred from having the assembly plant than component manufacture.

I would be surprised if engines and wings make up 60% of it. What else significant is from the UK ? And what are the respective proportions from other countries ?

[Manston Airport]

Hope it will be in VA colours.

James

[refplus20]

:ok: It will also visit Farnborough on the same day for pre-airshow compatability checks.

[Wycombe]

.....assume they will be using the "display week" thresholds at EGLF then, could be interesting otherwise watching the monster trying to land and stop in 1800m.

[ALLDAYDELI]

I wonder if the antispotting nets will be errected and anti-photography cordons will be put up. I'm thinking of the hoards and crowds when Concorde was retired. This is probably the next biggest event at LHR since the withdrawal of her.

[refplus20]

The visit to Farnborough is to check out landing, taxiing and manoeuvring at the airfield prior to the Airshow. I think the aerial display parameters are to be set nearer the show time along with the other display items.

[chevvron]

Refplus 20: Is it going to Farnborough before or after Heathrow?

[refplus20]

Not sure. When I get the timings, I'll post back again.
The world's largest commercial airliner, the 555 seat Airbus A380, will make its British debut when it flies into London's Heathrow Airport on 18th May 2006, to carry out airport compatibility checks in conjunction with airport operator British Airports Authority (BAA). London Heathrow is likely to be the A380's first European destination when it enters scheduled service.
The aircraft, powered by four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines, will be parking at Heathrow's new Pier 6 at Terminal 3. The 280 metre long, three-storey high pier, has aircraft stands to accommodate up to four A380s at a time and four gate-rooms which together seat 2,200 passengers. The facilities are designed to handle both very large aircraft and smaller aircraft types.
Four A380s have now flown. Two aircraft are actively involved in the intensive flight test programme which has already reached over 1,000 flight hours - one of these will be visiting Heathrow. Two others are undergoing cabin installation in Hamburg.
During its UK visit, the A380 will be carrying out ground handling and airport compatibility trials. These will help to ensure that everything is ready for the aircraft's entry into service. Airlines planning to operate the A380 at Heathrow include the first to begin scheduled service - Singapore Airlines – for whom deliveries are scheduled before year end; as well as Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Currently firm orders for the A380 stand at 159 aircraft for 16 customers.

[chevvron]

As of this morning, the A380 is NOT expected at Farnborough on 18 May.

[Skipness One Echo]

Looking at the current Virgin Atlantic market and route network, where are the A380s to be deployed. Is it the mass market Gatwick-Florida services or what? More seats to Tokyo? Anyone in the know?

[DTVAirport]

Don't suppose it'll return on June 03rd will it? I'm at Heathrow that day for the very first time in my life! :D (I've only ever done small time airports in the past!)

[jet2us]

Does anyone have a full schedule for the A380 in the UK yet, How long its staying and where its going? Sure they'll be alot of spectators any ideas if it will be Virgin colours? i gather it will be either 001 or 002 from what i hear.

[lplsprog]

I believe it will be visiting Harwarden on the 22nd May, it can't land but is to overfly the factory as part of the Families Day celebrations. I believe the site will also be open to non BAe visitors. There will be 2 A330 Belugas, which carry the wings for other Airbus marks, on display.:ok:

[DTVAirport]

An A330 Beluga would be an interesting sight! :=

[PAXboy]

Hope it will be in VA colours.
It will almost certainly be in Airbus' own paint scheme. The image here from Airbus website (http://www.airbus.com/store/photolibrary/AIRCRAFT/AIRBUS/A380/att00006034/media_object_image_lowres_A380_Singapore_mr.jpg) shows a machine visiting Australia with the launch customer in small letters. Since VS are not expecting to see the machine until 2007 or even 08 (see other thread here) then I cannot imagine that they are going to pay for that. Possible, of course but unlikely!

[Jordan D]

True Paxboy, but for the Asia tour earlier this (last?) year, it was dispatched with SQ & Qantas fully stickers and Emirates had a full painted one for the Dubai airshow.

But let's just wait.

Jordan

[KiloMIke]

Apparently its coming from the Berlin Airshow and will be in LH colours.

I understand its arriving on the 17th and departing on the morning of the 18th.

There was another thread with more details.

[AirHeadA380]

The A380 arrival and the official opening of Pier 6, Terminal 3 at London Heathrow Airport can be watched live on the web at www.heathrowairport.com/A380 (http://www.heathrowairport.com/A380) on Thursday 18 May at 13.00 BST.

[PPRuNe Pop]

All details concerning the ETA etc of the A380 are extensively covered in the Spectators Gallery forum here:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197059