Cheers for the replies.

It will be nice to be in LHR on 18th March.

A380 @ Lhr 18/03/2008
 

Hi,
Planning to go down and see this arrive next Month. According the runway alternation it should arrive 27L, but then as it's due at 1505 it's a bit close to the alternation. Anyone know in advance whether it will be one or the other? (assuming westerly ops).

Thanks

IIRC all A380 operations are restricted to 09R/27L until modification work on and around 09L/27R is complete sometime this year.

Next A380 models
 

What are the next A380 models Airbus would build?

Boeing 747-100 entered into service in January 1970. In June 1971, KLM started service of Boeing 747-200, with increased MTOW.

Douglas DC-10-10 entered into service in August 1971. In 1972, Douglas started delivering DC-10-40 and DC-10-30, with new wing, extra middle leg and increased MTOW.

Boeing 707-320 came out not very long after Boeing 707-120.

How much growth capacity is built into the Airbus 380-841?

The MTOW is 569 tons. There are mentions of MTOW like 590 tons, 625 tons, 650 tons...

Airbus 340-600HGW has MTOW of 380 tons and wing area like, 427 square metres. Which is barely more than half the 845 square metre wing area of A380.

If you want to build an A380 model whose wing loading, stall speed and runway length is similar to A340-600HGW, you get MTOW of about 750 tons!

So, what would be the next A380 models? And when would Airbus be ready to deliver them?

Boeing designed and built Boeing 747-400ER to satisfy a single order for 6 planes - the Qantas ones.

Qantas wanted 747-400ER for the MEL-LAX route. 12 800 km, and LAX-MEL is westwards - 747-400 non-ER has payload-range restrictions.

Qantas 380-841 would enter into service on the same MEL-LAX, because SYD-LAX is comfortable for 747, but even 747-400ER still struggles on MEL-LAX.

SQ wants to use A380-841 on HKG-SFO - 11 200 km. SQ was worried that A380 would struggle with payload-range on the westbound side nevertheless. Now that A380 is flying SIN-SYD, they discovered that the fuel burn is several % better than Airbus promised - it would also be better on SIN-LHR and SFO-HKG...

EK plans flying A380 DXB-JFK (11 000 km).

There are a number of routes now flown by A340-500 and B777-200LR. EK has DXB-GRU (12 200 km). PIA has KHI-JFK (11 700 km). Indian has JFK-BOM (12 500 km). Singapore has A340-500 struggling on SIN-LAX (14100 km) and SIN-EWR (15 400 km).

Are there any attractive routes which are slightly beyond the range of the now A380 and which have sufficiently large demand to fill A380-800 rather than A340-500 or B777-200LR?

Any A380 Proving Flights To LHR?
 

Does anybody know if SQ are planning to do any route proving flights to LHR with the A380 prior to the first scheduled service on the 18th of March?
D

Where's the A380 Gone?
 

I thought SIA had their first commercial A380 due in LHR later today. It's not showing up on their web site which lists all the SIA-LHR flights as 747-40os.

Any news?

http://www.flightglobal.com/home/default.aspx

Took delivery at beginning of this week...first commercial to LHR due on 18 March! ;)

TL

I thought it was due into heathrow on the 18th

chornedsnorkack

You are quoting a lot of distances, would you kindly expand on if you mean great circle distances, Still Air Distances or ESAD? It makes quite a difference :)

Singapore has A340-500 struggling on SIN-LAX (14100 km) and SIN-EWR (15 400 km) Why do you say that its struggling?

Mutt

Yes, it does mean great circle distances. Which is why I felt the need to remind that LAX-MEL westbound and SFO-HKG westbound were considered problematic - likely headwinds.

They wanted to have full three class service on the route - over 200 seats total, real economy, business and first class - and were disappointed to find that they could not, and had to make do with just 181 seats, Executive Economy and no First. Eventually, even this was too much, which is why they are dumping the Executive Economy altogether, and going to mere 100 seats (but still no first class).

singapore a380 flight into heathrow
 

someone told me that the a380 is due into heathrow on it's first commercial flight to london, Is this true and if so does anyone know when it is?

I believe it is March 18, but not sure if that date is leaving Singapore or arriving London

I believe that SIA's website shall reveal all

Singapore Airlines news release
 

They announced this at the end of January

airsound

A380 parked in Changi
 

Anyone know why 2 x A380 are sitting near the Tiger terminal at Changi and appear to be out of service?:confused: Cant imagine they should be sitting down there.

Definitely 18 March.

I'm booked on it LHR-SIN :ok:

lucky!..my friends nephew will be on that too!

hey when is the 747 8 arriving?.

thanks.

just a question regarding the A380 and LHR--say there was a problem at LHR and it has to divert-where else in the UK have handling facilities/pier/steps etc for it?

Somewhere that takes 747-400s or 777-300ERs - take your pick

Manchester is the designated diversion airport for the A380.