A380 coming to Sydney in 2 hours time
 

Those of you who are "locationally challenged" will be able to follow its progress on http://www.openatc.com and http://www.ozradar.com starting in about an hour from now (8:30am Sydney time)

It will leave tomorrow around noon sydney time.

Cheers

A380 is now visible on OpenATC.com, just south of Tassie as AIB402 FL410

A380 Msn 015
 

I have just spotted the MSN 015 convoy in the parking bay in Eauze (Gers). It will be moving on tonight.
For those interested you can monitor the movements of all ship sets on www.igg.fr
MB

The rejected takeoff test for the A380 should be in the next couple of weeks.

I wonder if Airbus will release the video.

Stuck !
 

Just hearing that due to the snow currently falling (again) in YVR, the 380 is not able to depart! Not sure of the scheduled guys, but the tour is on hold! The forecast (Public) calls for up to 15cms of snow, freezing rain and vis down to zero at times. Gale Warning for local waters...What happened to global warning? This is YVR! Toronto hit 17 by the way...:{

Other media now reporting it actually left on sked at 16:30.

I can see a flightplan for it to Toulouse which isn't due to depart CYVR until 23.00 UTC on Thursday night.

Well the A380 is on it's way at the mo. just passed overhead MCT at 1100utc at FL410, callsign AIB404

Yes but this is the new X380 stealth bomber version to replace the B52. No one knows when it leaves so no one knows when or where it will arrive. Dam good stuff out of the frogworks. Strange a lot of secret stuff comes out of smelly places, what was Lockheed’s called?:hmm:

A380 abroad
 

Saw an A380 over Bangkok yesterday lunchtime. First time I've seen one for real and I was amazed how squat they look. They'll certainly look a lot better when the plugs go in and the fuselage is lengthened.
Does anyone know what they were doing here? It looked as though they'd just departed the old airport at Don Muang. Does that mean the rumours about collapsing taxiways at Suvanabhumi are true? :)

More than a little miffed.

December 7, 2006 : Last updated 07:12 pm (Thai local time)

The Nation

Breakingnews > THAI may dump A380s if talks on compensation fail

THAI may dump A380s if talks on compensation fail
Thai Airways International is considering cancelling its order for six Airbus A380 super-jumbo jets if it fails in negotiations with their European manufacturers over compensation for delays in delivery.

THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni Wednesday said the national carrier originally expected to take delivery of the first A380s in early 2009. Now, it faces a delay of about 22 months, until 2011.

As a result, the airline's network expansion will be affected, particularly on long-haul routes like Bangkok to London, Frankfurt and Paris, on which the company planned to use the larger aircraft instead of increasing the number of flights.

"We are now re-planning our finances because of the delay," Apinan said.

The airline is also re-planning its use of aircraft by increasing load capabilities on long-haul flights to meet higher demand.

The Nation

That was my first impression too ..... this was 004(if I rem correctly) coming in over my back garden on a $$$$$ awfull day ....

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/5410/dsc00018wu9.jpg

A380 over BKK
 

This is a bit late - sorry pardon!

I was sitting on the balcony of our BKK flat last Tuesday lunchtime (National Hol for the Kings birthday) enjoying an ale when it flew right over me at about 5,000' apparently just out of the old airport at Don Muang.

Strange they didn't go to the new Suvannabhumi but the taxiways are a bit suspect at present so maybe not! :rolleyes:

Anyone know why an A380 might be out here at present?

First time I've seen the a/c for real. Doesn't it look squat!! I'm sure when the plugs are in and the fuselage extended it will look much better.

The A380 arrived Bangkok Suvanabhumi on Tuesday afternoon and I saw it on Wednesday morning.
I think that Airbus paid a quick visit to BKK because the aircraft was in SE Asia last week but by-passed Thailand, and Thai air have an order placed for the A380.
Plenty of construction work going on repairing taxiways etc.
The gear of the A380 should even scuff up more problems:)

great A380 vid on youtube
 

a speeded up video showing the construction of the A380s etc, very nicely done. Broadband required pretty much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbEiHGZtCFA&NR
S

FAA on A-380.
 

Speech - "Born to Fly"
Marion C. Blakey, Toulouse, France
December 12, 2006

A-380
Good afternoon, and thank you.

Today is indeed a great day for aviation. What we see before us today is not just an airplane capable of moving 850 passengers. No, what we see today — what brings us here — is an example of superb cooperation among Airbus, EASA and the FAA; an example of what happens when there's a resolution to get the job done.

This is the first major leap in aircraft capacity in over 35 years. The design and manufacture of the A-380 is a classic case of 21st century engineering. The certificates we present today are a testament to the safety of this airplane. This plane is 300,000 pounds heavier than the next largest passenger commercial airplane. In its largest configuration, it also carries roughly 200 more passengers than any other aircraft on the market. All of aviation, on an international scale, stepped up to the plate to ensure that we were ready to deal with the size of this airplane, especially in terms of airports and airspace. Frankly, we'd never had to deal with something this big.

I think the size of this aircraft is indicative of just how big dreams can be. With a takeoff weight of more than 1.2 million pounds, there's little question that man, in fact, was born to fly. It's the largest and the heaviest commercial airplane ever built.

From a certification standpoint, this was a huge challenge for the FAA and our European colleagues. This is the first-ever concurrent certification between EASA and FAA. And I want to compliment my European colleagues. Today, we're saying that this aircraft is safe for flight. Closer cooperation amongst our technical specialists made it happen. We're grateful for that. The FAA is working hard to run more like a business, and concurrent certification projects can help us get there.

In closing, let me say that this is a good thing, a very good thing. When you bring great minds together, safety is the natural by-product. And safety, after all, is what gives man wings to fly. Again, my congratulations. The A-380 is ready for takeoff.

Gracious and spirited support from the FAA. Perhaps the host served some wine with the lunch prior?

More power to 'em. Let's all hope the A-380 is successful, lucky, and long-lived!

As big big big as it is, when all is said and done the personal space for the economy pax is the same only more crowded.

not quite so
 

a lot of ppruners have said the same as rt, and how uncomfy it will be sharing the same space as 800 other people.

but airbus have said, and I believe them, that from check-in to bag pickup you really won't know that there are two decks and 800 people. With seperate level boarding bridges and so forth it will be like being on a current single deck airliner.

(of course, the immigration queues could be interesting...)

S