A 380 (Merged)

[Payscale]

airbush Things That Make You Go ...hmmmm

[VIE_PAX]

USAF (AMC) evaluates A380 purchase

According to the german magazine "Der Spiegel", the AMC currently evaluates the purchase of A380 Fs as the planned C-5 modification program seems to be "slightly" more expensive than originaly projected.
Further, the article states that the AMC aditionally requested data on A380, A346 and A332 VIP versions as possible replacement for the aging AF1 (a B742, right?).

The entire article can be found here (sorry, but only in German though) : http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,512642,00.html

Any thoughts on this from your side? I mean could you ever imagine the US president flying arround in this status symbol not "made in the US"?
On the other hand - if size really matters....

[barit1]

Might have a chance renamed the Boeing 380 to go with his new EH 101 helicopters.... sorry Lockheed Martin VH71s.

Now what ever happened to the MacNamara-izing of aircraft designations? We all saw how the bombers are no longer in the B-70++ designations, nor fighters in the F-111++ range (with the notable exception of the F-117, now obsolescent, which wasn't really a fighter but rather an attack velicle).

But helos progressed for a while through single digits (UH-1, H-2, SH-3...) then reverted to the old series (CH-53, ... OH-56...UH-60... ) and now we have the VH-71.

Who is putting out these nonsystematic designations, and who do they think they are fooling? (Wait, wait, don't tell me...)

[GHB100R]

Flight on A380

Hey Everyone!

Not much to say but one of my friends is buying a company and the company have bought him one of the 1st Class suites on the A380. He's going on Singapore Airlines' first commercial flight on the 25th Oct. Asked him to get some pics and i can't wait to hear what it was llike. One of the suites went for over US$100,000!

Let me know if anyone you know is going on one of these flights.

GHB100R

[FlyingHigh1989]

Airbus A380 Departs Tonight 1:00am BST

Just to make sure everyone knows

Anyone know a good place to watch it t/o live?

Thanks

[Fropilot]

This will be a historic moment in Civil Aviation. The fact that one of the best airlines in the world will be the first one to do so is good. ( For those old enough you might remember the concorde with SIA if it not good enough they will chuck it.)
I have seen the A380 upclose and it is not a monster but a very utilitarian designed plane and it is BEAUTIFUL.
Some of have sat in a B747-400 operated by some major carriers from Africa with less legroom than on a turboprop. On some routes the B744 just cannot cope.

[FlyingHigh1989]

yes it will be a very historic moment, im still trying to find somewhere to watch it, because im getting a feeling, SkyNews and BBC24 are not going, does anyone have any ideas?

[OAB11D]

It's on BBC news 24

Just had a look at BBC news 24 they are showing it between other stories.

My first post on PPrune

[FlyingHigh1989]

ye i just saw it the, seamed very slow t/o lol, but didnt use as much rwy as that 747-400 that woman fort it was the a380! lol

[212man]

Anyone know a good place to watch it t/o live?

Maybe near the threshold of Changi 02R?

[training wheels]

Here's the media coverage from Singapore based Channel News Asia. SQ 380 due to arrive SYD ahead of schedule at 1710 local.

[PAXboy]

FlyingHigh1989

but didnt use as much rwy as that 747-400

That might have something to do with it carrying (a reported) 450 pax, so it would be very light.

[Fly3]

It would indeed light but not because of the pax load, which was full, but because it was only flying to Sydney and so the fuel tanks were probably only half full.

[AN2 Driver]

Does anyone know the route or has a copy of the ATC Flightplan?

[Airgus]

Great Landing!

http://edition.cnn.com/video/

[Barnaby the Bear]

I would like to know what the reporter was drinking on the way over!!!!

[Mudfoot]

Who cares, I'm still green with envy. (err, blue?)

Cheers, y'all.

[1DC]

Just had a reporter on local radio, described as their air correspondent, talking about the A380 landing in Sydney.You will be happy to know that the plane's two engines were made in the UK...

[Mudfoot]

... and the other two?!?

(coat, hat, skyway...)

[ronca]

A380 First Flight

I was lucky enough to win the charity auction bid for a biz class seat on the first A380 from Singapore to Sydney yesterday. It was great to be part of this historical aviation event. There was a great party atmosphere on the flight. The SQ cabin crew did a valiant job serving the punters whilst over 70 jouros and about 10 TV crews were scurrying up and down the aisles interviewing everyone in sight. The CEO of SQ and the Pilot Capt Ting came through and chatted to many pax and presented commemorative certificates. Also bags of memorabilia that will probably end up on e-bay. The operation was typical SQ efficiency, taking off just a little late and landing on time. Jetway took a few mins to attach at Sydney but otherwise operationally faultless. Landing was perfect. The most noticeable things about the aircraft are a) much reduced interior noise (even at the back) and the feeling of space inside the cabins, both upstairs and down. From a pax perspective it is an excellent aircraft to fly on and the biz class seats are to die for. With the SQ config of only 470 passengers the experience in all classes is better than the 744. Lots of press coverage in Sydney last night and today. I think it will be very popular with the punters - now all Airbus has to do is sell enough of them to make some profit !