The bus is out of the paint shop

[oz_mark]

A380 giant in Qantas colours at long last | NEWS.com.au

A380 giant in Qantas colours at long last


AFTER a two-year wait Qantas has finally seen the finished product, with the first of its Airbus A380 jets now dressed in airline livery.


The 380-seat super jumbo emerged from the paint shop at Hamburg this week ready to return to France where it will undergo test flights with Qantas pilots.

 

[Flying Fox]

Yippie... finally we get to see her.

Funny angle to take the photo from. Hopefully we will get some side-on shots soon.

 

[NYCguy]

What is that green Y cabin about?

 

[SeaWolf]

What is that green Y cabin about?

The first thing I thought when I saw it was, "It looks like a military passenger transport with all that khaki."

 

[dot]

The thing that surprised me when I saw this shot..

Was the lack of the unpainted surfaces near the tailplane. I thought one of the reasons for the new roo on the tail was so that it could avoid the non-paintable surfaces at the root of the tailplane. Does anyone else have the same recollection?

 

[docjames]

I think you'll see part of the tail is unpainted, but the main reason for the change is that the "legs" would have been obscured through the control surfaces at the rear. So they've been moved so that they're clear of that.

 

[oz_mark]

The first, pictured, is due to land in August in Australia and will be operating between Melbourne and Los Angeles by October.

I've been thinking about this, and the gap between August and October. I guess this is for training, but how will this happen. Will the A380 be loitering around Australia during this time, flying to kiwi land, or what?

 

[simongr]

Be nice to get a ride on it SYD-PER later this year... we can always wish

 

[serfty]

Aside from affecting the "Inaugural" flight SYD-LAX, I'm not sure it would do much in the way of revenue based operations prior to that.

The currently expectation is late September/early October.

 

[Harpoon]

I've been thinking about this, and the gap between August and October. I guess this is for training, but how will this happen. Will the A380 be loitering around Australia during this time, flying to kiwi land, or what?

Possibly for ground staff, pilot, cabin crew, maintenance staff familiarization.

I imagine that all the mechanics would need a good look at her before putting her in to service?

Cabin crew might want a week or so (completely guessing there) to put through enough crews to get familiar with all of the functionality.

I'm assuming it's probably better to get everyone familiar with the new baby before putting her in to service, that way when #2 and #3 arrive.... they can go straight on to routes.

Again, just guessing/assuming with all my comments there I have no idea what the 2 months is for.

 

[oz_mark]

Aside from affecting the "Inaugural" flight SYD-LAX, I'm not sure it would do much in the way of revenue based operations prior to that.

The currently expectation is late September/early October.

I was thinking not so much in terms of revenue operations (although would be nice), as that it might be nice if it is galavanting around the country as part of familiarisation there may be chances to see it around.

 

[Kendall Roy]

There's a post on the Sydney Airport Msg Board noting an announcement this week re: schedules for arrival and first flights.

Ref: First Qantas A380 In Service By October - Page 10 - Sydney Airport Message Board

 

[pauly7]

I was thinking not so much in terms of revenue operations (although would be nice), as that it might be nice if it is galavanting around the country as part of familiarisation there may be chances to see it around.

How many/which airports can handle the A380 galavanting in Australia?!

 

[serfty]

How many/which airports can handle the A380 galavanting in Australia?!

In a generalised sense, if an aerodrome's runway can handle a 744, it can handle an A380!

 

[oz_mark]

...in terms of runways etc, I suspect a few can handle it. I know some rather large Russian cargo planes get in and out of a few. For example, I think PER could handle it from a runway/taxi way point of view (might be more challenging at the terminals though!)

 

[serfty]

I know LST can handle most aircraft, AVV as well.

 

[maninblack]

I know LST can handle most aircraft

I assume you are joking. I don't think LST would meet the requirements for A380 operations.

 

[moa999]

I thought runway lengths was OK, issue was more width of the runways and taxiways due to the greater wingspan and position of 2nd engine.

Risk that the 2nd engine would blow up dust which may get sucked back into the engine.

 

[maninblack]

I thought runway lengths was OK, issue was more width of the runways and taxiways due to the greater wingspan and position of 2nd engine.

Risk that the 2nd engine would blow up dust which may get sucked back into the engine.

Runway length at LST (1981m) would not be sufficient but also there are numerous other considerations. Including;

Design requirements stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation for A380 ops. Runway length and width. Separation distances between runways, taxiways and obstacles. Width of runway shoulders, width of the aircraft pavement at runway-taxiway and taxiway-taxiway intersections to allow pilots to manoeuvre A380 at the turns. Also runway and taxiway weight capability.

 

[straitman]

Runway length at LST (1981m) would not be sufficient but also there are numerous other considerations. Including;

Design requirements stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation for A380 ops. Runway length and width. Separation distances between runways, taxiways and obstacles. Width of runway shoulders, width of the aircraft pavement at runway-taxiway and taxiway-taxiway intersections to allow pilots to manoeuvre A380 at the turns. Also runway and taxiway weight capability.

Good answer.

The details are available at : Airbus A380 Technical Data.

All the answers are there for those who wish to read it all. (I didn't)

Warning it is a 5.81 Mb download.