A380 visit down under - timeframe?

[markis10]

Are you in Singapore now? A group of FTers including yours truly went to the Asian Aerospace today to see the big beastie amongst other displays.

If you're going tomorrow - I suggest the best viewing is outside the exhibition centre (in the medium-high numbered carparks) rather than within. Today the A380 took off and landed on the far runway and some of the aerial display was hidden by the cargo building if you were within the exhibition centre.

Note crowds significantly bigger after the aerial display than before - took 20 minutes to fight our way out and another 20 minutes in the taxi/bus queue.

Yes, went today, absolutely amazing flying display by the A380, could have sworn she was about to stall about 10 times but I suppose the size masks the true airspeed!

Agree with he crowds, watched the A380 while in the line for the heavy shuttle, always wanted to check out a Lancer - wouldn't let me take it for a spin though :roll:

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

yup - amazing something so big can appear to go so slow and maneouvre that well

 

[markis10]

yup - amazing something so big can appear to go so slow and maneouvre that well

While watching the flying display I actually thought about the A320 flight that did not go so well given the slow speed! Some of the displays seemed to get pretty close to the crowd and I am not that good a runner had something gone wrong. Pretty impressed with the overall display given the location and how busy changi is, glad I made a last minute decision to give up a weekend in brisvegas for it, although I am sad to say I shall not be in a hurry to fly BA in cattle class again but thats another topic!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

from where I was standing it seemed pretty clear the A380 (and also the military a/c preceding it) were over water for all manouvres.

 

[NM]

yup - amazing something so big can appear to go so slow and maneouvre that well

That's because its basically empty while doing these manoeuvres.

Did they leave the gear down as they had to when doing the display at Le Borget in June?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I'll have to check the pics to see. I wouldnt be surprised given how low they were flying

 

[NM]

I'll have to check the pics to see. I wouldnt be surprised given how low they were flying

Back in June when the A380 made its first public airshow display, the aircraft was not permitted to raise the landing gear unless it was established in steady level flight. That would have required them to takeoff and fly away for up to 10 mins before they could have commenced the flying display. So they decided to do the entire flying display with the rubber dangling. Made for a very impressive display indeed.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

wheels were retracted

some pics here

 

[markis10]

The first pass was a low slow & dirty with the gear down.