I believe the plane sporting EK livery at the Dubai Air show had earlier been in SQ colours during a visit to Singapore, and then had QF paint on a subsequent trip to Oz.

partly correct.

The first aircraft, F-WWOW (MSN 001), has been seen in SIA and QF livery and is the first flying A380' (there are two others for structural tests). The first serial model for SQ will be MSN 003, F-WWSA.

The one in EK livery is F-WWDD, MSN 004. It is the second aircraft. Both will remain longer in service as a test aircraft.

EK and SQ have signed the contract with AI at the same time, but SQ a little earlier, so both can say they are the first to fly the A380. SQ will be the first to put it into service.

I might have to tell you that it's even more complicated: The production sequence is also not in order: first they complete MSN 001, then 004, then 002, 007, 003, 005 and 006.

hehe
 

Thanks guys mow its all clear to me.
its kinda funny though how confusing they can make it....

cheers guys

ciao

The A380's 'paint' is actually removable decals - pretty slick for promotional quick turn-arounds.

Guess they'll all be very disappointed when they do get them........................the thing just ain't going to meet it's promised performance.............50 tons short of target max Take off weight due to wing bending when loaded with fuel (fore and aft twisting), won't even do Hong kong- los Angeles direct, so Singapore/QF & Emirates are going to look pretty silly....................
Also the wake turbulence is a big problem, they are talking about creating a new category and you'll loose 1 take off behind every 380 departure..................should annoy everybody

I say Arryboy, that's a bit of an eye opener. Is that a rumour or fact that A380 is coming up 50 tonnes short of expected MTOW??

I would be interested in seeing any sourced facts to substantiate this rubbish.

Given the fact Boeing has decided to join the game with the 747-8 then the new wake category, if created, will be waiting for them when they fly.

The aviation world will have to get used to it.

BOAC any reason for the edit ?

A380 in flight
 

A buddy sent me this px, wanted to know the airline. Anyone help?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...5/8f5d0f61.jpg

Stan

Re: A380 in flight
 

It is actually a photo of a large scale model aeroplane, not of the real A380. The video from which this photo was taken can be found on the Internet.

Re: A380 in flight
 

Fast response THANKS. He tried to make me believe was real!!

Anyone know the airline livery?

Re: A380 in flight
 

It's Etihad Airways, based Abu Dhabi and the National Airline of the UAE.
What a great marketing tool it is too!

Re: A380 in flight
 

Well, the text ETIHAD is the actual name of an airline.

And their official pictures - fakes, so far - of their A380 can be found on their site:
http://www.etihadairways.com/Present...6-00B621D01A46

I do not think A380 has as yet flown in Etihad livery, though they did glue on the liveries of some other A380 customers during the A380 tour in November.

Re: A380 in flight
 

Does anyone know when the A380 is due into LHR ?? Just curious that's all....

FE

Re: A380 in flight
 

First demo flight due end of Feb/begin March to co-incide with the opening of the new A380 pier. Livery yet to be announced!!

Re: A380 in flight
 

If you are on about Pier 6 at LHR, it is already open.....well to us anyways. :ok:

Had a walk down there the other day. As long as there wasn't a plane on stand you'd get a fantastic view of the Southern Runway.

FE

Re: A380 in flight
 

I'd be putting my money on either Virgin or Emeriates, being the UK and LHR, I would say Virgin. I am sure that Branson would love to try and get one over his rivals.

That and aren't Virgin sueing Airbus for the A380 being late? This might be part of a settlement deal. You never know.

FE

Re: A380 - combined threads
 

point5

Not quite true - Pier 6 first stand opens on 16th (307) for live movements, 9th for towing trials. The pier should be fully in use way before the A380 arrives especially as it doesn't have a UK Airworthiness Certificate yet...

P7

Etihad
 

Quote:

---

Etihad Airways, based Abu Dhabi and the National Airline of the UAE

---

I suspect that Emirates Air (EK) may be a little upset about that! EK was the "airline of the United Arab Emirates" (UAE) based in Dubai. I think that it was jointly owned by Dubai, AUH and maybe some of the other emirates that make up the UEA.

Now AUH (Abu-Dhabi - another emirate of the UEA) has opened their own airline, Etihad.

Re: A380 - combined threads
 

I see the A380 is off for altitude training at Medellin - Jose Maria Cordova Airport (MDE/SKRG) today. Elevation 7027ft.

A380 delivery delayed ???
 

Hi, just heard a rumour that the A380 roll-out will be delayed for a year. Has anyone else heard this ??

Re: A380 delivery delayed ???
 

I thought it had already happened in April 2005 ?

Re: A380 - combined threads
 

Cool, now the A380 been to 8 countries, Australia, Colombia, France, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain and UAE.
I wonder who´s next in line, since Bolivia seem to be canceled?
UK perhaps?

Re: A380 - combined threads
 

(Flight International)

Bolivia isn't canceled.

Re: A380 - combined threads
 

The A380 doesn't have a certficate to fly into the UK yet! The LHR visit has been delayed until March.

Cheers!

Re: A380 - combined threads
 

point5

i am intersted in how you get your inside information so quickly. you really have your finger on the pulse of Heathrow.

P7

Size of A380 upper deck
 

How roomy do you think is the upper deck of the Airbus A380?

A picture of the upper deck of the first plane - with a complete, 8 abreast Economy row in picture, but far in the background:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/972843/L/
Do you fancy spending hours in that window seat?

A closer view of a partial row:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/958995/L/

For comparison, an Airbus 340-600 prototype in a comparable stage of completeness:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/371822/L/
Do A340-600 and A380 use water tanks of equal size?
I noticed that both pictures have 4 rows of tanks and thought if they provide equal scale.

The A340-600 has much narrower aisle in the middle - but then the side tanks are a bit farther from the wall.


A part of the A380 has been made more habitable - with Business seats:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/958875/L/
For comparison, one example of a 340-600 Business Class in service:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/535228/L/

So - which one do you think is the more roomy and comfortable?

A380 LHR Visit
 

I noticed yesterday as I came off my flight that a UA777 was parked at the new A380 compatable pier at T3 with both airbridges connected. Due to the high number of official looking chaps standing around the apron I assume that they were running a test with the aircraft on stand and also the stand next door seemed to be getting a hose down in preperation for more trials.
SOOOOO....Does anyone seem to know when we may see an A380 paying a quick visit to LHR in order to try out the new stands????

wonder what was in it for UA since they aren't getting any!

Stands 303, 305, 307, 309 and 311 are now all open and available for live traffic. 301 will come into service in due course. Indeed United and Malaysian were parked up on 305 and 307 this arvo. First A380 due in March.

Cheers!

Ooohh...Thanks for that Point5!!!

2006 or 2007?:E

Just a clarification; the stands we now call 309 and 311 are what used to be known as 304 and 302, they've just been renumbered, and are not part of the new Pier 6 development. In the future, Pier 6 will extend across what is now the R cul-de-sac and stands 309 and 311 will face north alongside 301-307.

Indeedy Gonzo!

315 is also shut for the forseeable future whilst they move the Heathrow Express escape duct and demolish the end of the pier to (eventually) accomodate the widening of taxiway Bravo.

A380 due March 2006.

Ciao

Gonzo

That was a clarification no-one asked for or needed. Point5 was entirely correct in their assertions and their position within the aviation community is one that is nearly as lofty as mine own. So he knows his stuff.

P7

The word on the taxiway is that the A380 will do some flybys at Hawarden (where the wings are built) and then land at Manchester. Maybe to LHR thereafter. This will happen in March, dependent upon the test programme.

Can we expect a Rolls-Royce Derby flypast too sometime? In the past there have been very large RR Staff viewing days at EMA when one of the new products is parked up for the RR staff to see.

Anyone heard when the big mama might show off her under belly in the Derbyshire skies?

and occasionally dropped :oh:

Hearty apologies, P7. I must have been under the mistaken impression that those people not lucky enough to see the output from Heathrow ATC's glorious Operations Department, might have inferred from point5's post that Pier 6 now extended all the way across, and thus that the R cul-de-sac was now closed. In retrospect I now see that I was completely and utterly out of order, and unreservedly apologise for any heartache my comments caused to point5, and hope I can be forgiven. :{

In the future if I see a post I believe I can clarify for the benefit of readers' understanding, I will wait patiently for you to ask me......:p

Oh Gonzo...You really are scoffing that humble pie!!! :}

And rightly so. Being fed by one such as I tastes good, don't it Gonze?:ok:

P7