A380

[munitalP]

I was lucky enough to see close up the new 380 as we taxied into Frankfurt today (Fri 23rd). The 380 dwarfed our Lufthansa A321 as we stopped to let the 380 cross. The fanfare was amazing, there was a solid line of airport vehicles lining the taxiway with people aplauding the achievement. To state the obvious - its a big plane!

happy landings

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

certainly is - I've seen it a few times now

still hoping to fly it this year

 

[leny]

Very cool indeed. I've only seen pictures, never the real thing

Where are they flying atm, for which airline/s?

 

[leny]

If they do already that is...


I'd like to see and fly it some day, looks bloody awesome

 

[NM]

Very cool indeed. I've only seen pictures, never the real thing

Where are they flying atm, for which airline/s?

None have been delivered to any airlines yet. Any flights are part of the test program. The best place to see one will be Toulouse as they take part in the test program. I believe there are still only 5 aircraft participating in the test program.

 

[JohnK]

still hoping to fly it this year

That's strange, I don't remember you ever mentioning that you had a pilots licence or that you worked for an airline.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

still hoping to fly on it this year

happy now?

 

[simongr]

That would need one hell of a saddle KiwiFlyer

 

[NM]

still hoping to fly on it this year

happy now?

I would prefer to fly in it rather than on it. Its a long way if you fall off it.

 

[oz_mark]

I would prefer to fly in it rather than on it. Its a long way if you fall off it.

pretty much the same distance if you fall out of it.

 

[kpc]

I was lucky enough to see close up the new 380 as we taxied into Frankfurt today (Fri 23rd). The 380 dwarfed our Lufthansa A321 as we stopped to let the 380 cross. The fanfare was amazing, there was a solid line of airport vehicles lining the taxiway with people aplauding the achievement. To state the obvious - its a big plane!

happy landings

I saw her in a hanger (with tail protruding) from the tarmac also in Frankfurt on March 18 as I was getting off a Fokker 100....she was indeed very big, obviously much bigger than a 747....I took a few pictures, but as it was at night, the pictures did not turn out very well.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I would prefer to fly in it rather than on it. Its a long way if you fall off it.

ah that'll be my slydeiax anaig

 

[Skyring]

I saw her in a hanger (with tail protruding) from the tarmac also in Frankfurt on March 18 as I was getting off a Fokker 100....she was indeed very big, obviously much bigger than a 747....I took a few pictures, but as it was at night, the pictures did not turn out very well.

Actually, the A380 isn't hugely bigger than a B747. Fuselage dimensions are much the same (though of course the 380 has a whole upper deck instead of just a "hump"), only the wings and tail are maybe 10-15% bigger. There's an excellent diagram in the Wikipedia article comparing the sizes of four large planes.

In fact, in a three-class configuration, the A380 will carry fewer passengers than a one-class B747.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Actually, the A380 isn't hugely bigger than a B747. Fuselage dimensions are much the same (though of course the 380 has a whole upper deck instead of just a "hump"), only the wings and tail are maybe 10-15% bigger. There's an excellent diagram in the Wikipedia article comparing the sizes of four large planes.

In fact, in a three-class configuration, the A380 will carry fewer passengers than a one-class B747.

While I don't think it's such a huge shock as the 747 would've been in 1969 (compared to a DC-8 or 707), I'm still staggered by the sheer bulk of the A380. The upper deck makes a huge difference to the physical presence of the thing.

As for the pax differences, a 737 in BBJ configuration holds less than a CRJ200. No prizes for guessing what I'd rather fly in.

mt