Airbus Superjumbo Makes Asia Debut In Singapore

[papaya9]

The A380 is a forced mistake. I really don't wish this, but the plane will be plagued with issues in every aspect. A real logistical nightmare for Airbus.

The real need in the industry is speed. Forget these ridiculous behemoths! When they can halve the time from NY to Tokyo, I will be impressed. Imagine. 12 hours to Bangkok!

Edited November 12, 2005 by papaya9

[lomatopo]

The real need in the industry is speed.  Forget these ridiculous behemoths!  When they can halve the time from NY to Tokyo, I will be impressed.  Imagine.  12 hours to  Bangkok!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Been there, done that.

[think_too_mut]

When they can halve the time from NY to Tokyo, I will be impressed.  Imagine.  12 hours to  Bangkok!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hope that never happens.

12 hours to Bangkok?

It's 6 now, why doubling it? What a horror would that be for me!

[cdnvic]

Here's a photo of the big bird in Singapore.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=9571...QRFP&photo_nr=9

from airliners.net

cv

[lomatopo]

Here's a photo of the big bird in Singapore.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=9571...QRFP&photo_nr=9

from airliners.net

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great pic. Normally, in pictures, it doesn't look that big perhaps because the engines are huge and the fuselage, while large in diameter doesn't appear that long. But when you see it in perspective it is definitely a whopper. I can't even imagine how much it will weigh full loaded (fuel, passengers, cargo) at take off for say SIN-LHR? It will probably take 3+ hours to dump the fuel in the event of an emergency requiring a landing soon after take-off. Stopping it at V1 should also be challenging.

This aircraft will be popular with the air frieght providers (FedEx, UPS, et al.).

[cdnvic]

I can't even imagine how much it will weigh full loaded (fuel, passengers, cargo) at take off for say SIN-LHR? It will probably take 3+ hours to dump the fuel in the event of an emergency requiring a landing soon after take-off. Stopping it at V1 should also be challenging.

This aircraft will be popular with the air frieght providers (FedEx, UPS, et al.).

A380-800 - Operating empty 277,000kg (610,700lb), max takeoff 560,000kg (1,234,600lb).

A380-800F - Operating empty 252,000kg (555,600lb), max takeoff 590,000kg (1,300,700lb).

747-400 - Standard operating empty with PW-4056s 180,985kg (399,000lb), with CF6-80-C2B1Fs 180,755kg (398,500lb), with RB-211s 181,755kg (400,700lb); operating weights at optional MTOW with PW-4056s 181,485kg (400,100lb), with CF6-80-C2B1Fs 181,255kg (399,600lb), with RB-211s 182,255kg (401,800lb). Max takeoff 362,875kg (800,000lb), or optionally 377,845kg (833,000lb), or 385,555kg (850,000lb), or 396,895kg (875,000lb).

747-400ER/ERF - MTOW 412,770kg (910,000lb).

I'd hate to be the guy with the jack when either one of these gets a flat.

cv

[Tywais]

I can't even imagine how much it will weigh full loaded (fuel, passengers, cargo) at take off for say SIN-LHR? It will probably take 3+ hours to dump the fuel in the event of an emergency requiring a landing soon after take-off. Stopping it at V1 should also be challenging.

This aircraft will be popular with the air frieght providers (FedEx, UPS, et al.).

A380-800 - Operating empty 277,000kg (610,700lb), max takeoff 560,000kg (1,234,600lb).

A380-800F - Operating empty 252,000kg (555,600lb), max takeoff 590,000kg (1,300,700lb).

747-400 - Standard operating empty with PW-4056s 180,985kg (399,000lb), with CF6-80-C2B1Fs 180,755kg (398,500lb), with RB-211s 181,755kg (400,700lb); operating weights at optional MTOW with PW-4056s 181,485kg (400,100lb), with CF6-80-C2B1Fs 181,255kg (399,600lb), with RB-211s 182,255kg (401,800lb). Max takeoff 362,875kg (800,000lb), or optionally 377,845kg (833,000lb), or 385,555kg (850,000lb), or 396,895kg (875,000lb).

747-400ER/ERF - MTOW 412,770kg (910,000lb).

I'd hate to be the guy with the jack when either one of these gets a flat.

cv

Also fortunate the fueling is not self-service.

[Rinrada]

Great looking plane and looking forward to the day to depart London Heathrow on one of Thai airways new super duper 380s(following a session in the lounge of course)

These will be and should prove a real asset to the whole future to LOS and give old Singers a run on their prestigeous position in the region....

Suwanna,the new skytrain and the A380 will all go hand in hand to show what a real hub is all about... yeah..........o how many have we ordered.....20-30... 40......

[ilyushin]

The double decker was previously scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, but was delayed by engine problems.

Growing pains?

The A380, which seats 555 passengers, claims it will give operators at least 20 per cent cost savings over Boeing's 747 jets.

Not exactly fair comparing old technology 747 to an A380. More fair would be against the 777-300 which has the same passenger capacity as the 747 but uses 30% less fuel and a range capacity of more then 13,000km.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree!

[think_too_mut]

Here's a photo of the big bird in Singapore.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=9571...QRFP&photo_nr=9

from airliners.net

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great. I was wondering who would post a pic.

One of my friends happened to be at Changi when the bird came.

[Guest endure]

Non-Stop is the way to go - fk having two stops which I currently have. People like convenience and no hassle over having to deboard/board a few times. As long as the bar keeps open - people will be happy!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Where do you fly from that needs 2 stops?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Based in Wash DC - example next flight... DC - Chicago, Chicago-Bejing, Bejing-BKK.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, right. I assumed from your nick that you were a Brit

[britmaveric]

Non-Stop is the way to go - fk having two stops which I currently have. People like convenience and no hassle over having to deboard/board a few times. As long as the bar keeps open - people will be happy!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Where do you fly from that needs 2 stops?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Based in Wash DC - example next flight... DC - Chicago, Chicago-Bejing, Bejing-BKK.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, right. I assumed from your nick that you were a Brit

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am a brit!!!

[Guest endure]

Non-Stop is the way to go - fk having two stops which I currently have. People like convenience and no hassle over having to deboard/board a few times. As long as the bar keeps open - people will be happy!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Where do you fly from that needs 2 stops?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Based in Wash DC - example next flight... DC - Chicago, Chicago-Bejing, Bejing-BKK.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, right. I assumed from your nick that you were a Brit

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am a brit!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A Brit living in Britland is what I meant

[think_too_mut]

I am a bit annoyed with the title of this thread.

Felt like Airbus is going places where one can get something valuable in exchange of glass pearls.

Asia/Pacific is the place where the action is on, not only in aviation.

Perhaps, Airbus has recognised that and the first flight is not LHR-JFK.

They came to Singapore.

[lomatopo]

I am a bit annoyed with the title of this thread.

They came to Singapore.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe I'm missing your point? An "Asia debut", as in the title of this thread, means that this is the first time (debut) this aircraft has been to Asia. Furthermore the first stop was in Singapore. Since this was the first time the A380 has been to Asia, and its first stop was Singapore, then an "Asian debut in Singapore" makes sense to me? When it makes the first LHR-JFK flight then the headline, or thread topic, might be, "Airbus SuperJumbo makes North American Debut in NYC". Or is the source of your annoyance something else altogether?

Note that SQ are the launch customer, and that the aircraft that is the subect of this thread has "First to fly A380, Singapore Airlines" painted on both sides. Also note the SQ logo on each engine, along with the words, "first to fly". Hence the first stop, or debut, in Singapore

QF and MH are also early customers, so that's the reason for stops in those locales. Also note that Airbus is also trying to deal with the issue of financial compensation due to the delay in deliveries of aircraft to these national carriers. The visit is proabably meant to assuage their fears, of another delay, and to possibly minimze or reduce their financial demands?

BTW, SQ has a record of buying, or leasing, and operating all sorts of aircraft .

Edited November 13, 2005 by lomatopo

[Mighty Mouse]

It arrived in Sydney this morning and flew over my place. Very quiet. All heads in my neighbourhood were turned skywards to get a look.

I'm looking forward to my first flight on it.

I'll be signing up for the mile high club, but I don't know whether to try the new beds or the usual kama sutra positions in the economy class seats.

[think_too_mut]

A friend from Sydney sent me this pic today:

[cdnvic]

Here it is in Qantas colours.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=9586...&sok=&photo_nr=

cv

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Jeez it's a big mother. Looks nice in QF hues

[lomatopo]

Wow, it looks like it left Tolouse with the SQ branding, and after leaving SIN went to BNE where it was refitted with the Qantas branding for the flight to SYD. Obviously this has to be done, you wouldn't want the debut flight to SYD to be done with SQ branding, but it must have been challenging to do? I think the next(last?) stop is KUL on 17 Nov? Maybe it's back to BNE for a quick refit?

Here is another interesting view of the new A380.

Also, I did a kick out of the "passengers" they are using. I assume they use water?

[Rinrada]

Also, I did a kick out of the "passengers" they are using. I assume they use water?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

naw...recon they are big buckets of beer chang...only thing good enough for ballast.

Got talking to one of the stewards yesterday on the flight back to the smoke and he recons Thai have put in an order for 16 of these babes.....looking good.

[thebream]

been on tele last few days here in oz. something to look at with john travolta thrown in

[The Gentleman Scamp]

engine problems

Already?

That can't have encouraged much faith in the eyes of the SIA.

[think_too_mut]

engine problems

Already?

That can't have encouraged much faith in the eyes of the SIA.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If the problems have to occur, would not you want them to happen during the testing phase?

[lomatopo]

Got talking to one of the stewards yesterday on the flight back to the smoke  and he recons Thai have put in an order for 16 of these babes.....looking good.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

TG have ordered six (6) A380's. Emirates have ordered forty-one!

A380 Orders

Edited November 16, 2005 by lomatopo

[Rinrada]

Thats 6 more than British Airways.

Their new Chairman a Mr Willy Wonker recons that they dont see the need for them...methinks ...late as usual.

For the Olympics in China they (the chinese) have built a 500 km /hour Maglev train to get the punters into town while we over ere intend to have dedicated cycle lanes on the roads to the venues.

[mrbojangles]

Thats 6 more than British Airways.

Their new Chairman a Mr Willy Wonker recons that they dont see the need for them...methinks ...late as usual.

Makes me sick that our own country's airline, don't buy these aircraft.

The way BA are currently operating, me thinks there will be no need for them in the near future, either

[lomatopo]

A380 with MH logo in KUL

Another A380 in EK livery, heading to the Dubai airshow, I think?

[Youbloodybeauty]

naw...recon they are big buckets of beer chang...only thing good enough for ballast.

Nup, it was a few pallets of Bollinger + the odd litre of water!

Cheers YBB

Edited November 18, 2005 by Youbloodybeauty

[Levent]

The double decker was previously scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, but was delayed by engine problems.

Growing pains?

The A380, which seats 555 passengers, claims it will give operators at least 20 per cent cost savings over Boeing's 747 jets.

Not exactly fair comparing old technology 747 to an A380. More fair would be against the 777-300 which has the same passenger capacity as the 747 but uses 30% less fuel and a range capacity of more then 13,000km.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The 777-300 is meant as a replacement for older Boeing 747's ("classic" 747-200's mostly). The 747-400 can still carry more passengers than the 777-300, depending on the layout of course. Also, the 777 has two engines which automatically makes it more economical.

Airplane manufacturers mainly look at the cost per seat, in other words how much does it cost the airline on average to get a passenger from A to B? Generally this means that the more passengers a plane carries, the lower the mile-per-seat costs will be.

Boeing's Worldliner jet set a new record for the longest non-stop passenger airline flight completing a trek of more than 20,000 kilometres from Hong Kong to London while the A380 was en route to Singapore. The Boeing flight touched down at London's Heathrow Airport after 22 hours and 42 minutes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

22 hours and 42 minutes!!!!! No way would I want to be stuck in a plane that long 10 hours is bad enough! I think Boeing have got it wrong this time and Airbus have the lead on this one. I would much prefer cheaper air travel with the same current travel times over the convenience of longer non-stop flights.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The flight of the 777-200LR was a succesful record attempt simply to show the capabilities of the plane. But it couldn't fly this distance with full payload. The flight was from HKG to LHR but went over the Pacific instead of over Asia; normally scheduled flight cross Russia. Also, there is no need for a plane that can fly more than 20,000 kms because then you simply fly the other way around!