A330-300 tech questions

[oxymoron666]

I'm after a few answers from anyone who drives a 333, particularly those in UK airlines;

1, What would be the typical range with varying seat configs and if full can you still lift 7-12 tonnes of freight (LGW-BGI or maybe LGW-MCO)
2, What is a normal cruise Mach No.
3, What do you like about flying it (alright not quite tech but.....)
4, Average Climb/Descent Mach/IAS/TAS

Any other technical points of interest would be greatly appreciated....

[fiddlair]

I"m far from UK, and not on the type right now, but here"s what I can say:
Basically you can plan to fly about 8-8.30 with full load (with max ZFW), about 420 NM an hour average - this makes about 3300-3500 NM. Normal cruise is .82, but it depends on operator of course. Max is .84. Pilots don"t like to fly faster than .82, cause airbuses are very sensitive to wind changes, so the smallest change in wind can cause a sudden change in speed, so if you fly with .84, you can easily penetrate max speed - lots of paperwork.
As an airbus it is not bad, specially after the 320-s - but I don"t like it. It can be dangerous (AF447) if you believe all the bull**** Airbus tries to teach you. I don"t remember speeds, but I know that the only way to climb is with high speed, otherwise once you let the speed decrease, at top of climb you may never accelerate again.

[oxymoron666]

Thanks fiddlair,

I'm still interested in other peoples views and certainly those operating 330-300's westbound from Europe over the pond.

[the reo]

Just asia and the pacific

1. 8-10 hours with full pax 250-310 and 20 tonnes of freight
2. 0.81-0.82
3. its not as dry as a boeing. (doesn't matter what you're speed is, you still get airborne for your FTL limit)
4. climb 300 into 0.81-0.78, descent .81/.82 into 260-310KIAS. TAS who cares? normally about 400-460 GS in the cruise

[oxymoron666]

Thanks Reo

[Tinwacker]

Added info:

BLR to CDG approx 9.5 - 10hrs uplifting 70 tons of fuel.

Max t/off heavy wt aircraft 233tons
Approx aircaft wt 121tons
Approx fuel 70tons
Approx pax 30tons
Approx remaining for cargo 12tons

Main variable would be the fuel dependent on route sector times, that can change cargo available load uplifted.

Some examples of actual flight times.

HKG - SYD approx 9:20hrs
MEL - HKG approx 9hrs
HKG - DXB approx 8hrs

TW