747400sp From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 3301 posts, RR: 2 Posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 11089 times:
Since I was coming back home to visit my family for the holidays, I thought it would be a nice ideal to take a look at a QF A380. When I drove by LAX during the day, I saw that QF had two A380s parked at LAX, and I was not really that impressed by the A380s at first. That night I went back to Imperial Hill, and they was towing a QF A380 to it's gate at the TBT. While the QF A380 was loading, I got caught up on some other treats. For example, the Thai Airways A340 500 that was flying nonstop to BKK (pretty powerful take off), and an UA 747 400 to SYD (very powerful and loud take off). Finally the QF A380 is being push back, now here somethings that impressed me about this aircraft. First was the fact that this was airliner I seen in person, who's tail tower over a 747's tail, second was the fact that they had to tow it near the AA hangers just to start it up and third was the fact that it needed a police escort to the end of runway 25L. When the A380 took off, it left a big impression on me, I just start clapping.
DL767captain From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 2539 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 10989 times:
SSTsomeday From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 1276 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 10970 times:
Yes - I saw it the last few times I landed in L.A.
Whereas it did not seem that much larger than the 747 in terms of the body (this first variant has a somewhat stubby appearance), what really did impress me was the double line of windows in the night, as well as the truly the massive tail. Plus the Qantas colors are beautiful.
Why did it need a police escort? And why would they tow it so far before they fired the engines. Is it a jet wash issue? Or for fuel economy?
Lexy From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 2362 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 10961 times:
Quoting 747400sp (Thread starter): and third was the fact that it needed a police escort to the end of runway 25L.
Sure it wasn't a "Follw Me" truck or an airfield ops vehicle giving an escort?
I remember the first time I saw an A380, I was a bit underwhelmed until I got underneath it on the ramp. Then it was put into perspective fairly quickly.
TN486 From Australia, joined Jul 2008, 815 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 10945 times:
Quoting 747400sp (Thread starter): First was the fact that this was airliner I seen in person, who's tail tower over a 747's tail, second was the fact that they had to tow it near the AA hangers just to start it up and third was the fact that it needed a police escort to the end of runway 25L. When the A380 took off, it left a big impression on me, I just start clapping.
You got it in one mate, that tail and the takeoff is awesome. If you can get into a position where it is heading straight for you, on finals and very low, is another experience you wont forget in a hurry. You wont get much of a buzz through engine noise though, its very quiet. The ac itself will look much better in profile in future years as stretched versions.
remember the t shirt "I own an airline"on the front - "qantas" on the back
Af773atmsp From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 2573 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 10927 times:
I remember seeing the A380 for the first time. The tail was higher than the Fed Ex cargo building at MSP. When it took off down the runway it blasted snow. It didn't it take too long for it to climb and was very quiet. When it came back to MSP it made a perfect landing.
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, RR: 32 Reply 7, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 10855 times:
I'd seen the A380 a few times (drove under it while landing @ LHR, on stand @ LHR) and wasn't that impressed by it. Then I saw it up close at Farnborough '08...you don't get a feel for the size, or wingspan until you are underneath it, or beside it as it takes off with some crazy test pilot at the wheel like in this video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MW6fdH6YoJ4
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
DeltAirlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8770 posts, RR: 13 Reply 8, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 10838 times:
First time was back in November. I was in the Delta Crown Room by Gate 6 at JFK, packing up my laptop to head over to my gate for my flight to BOS. I look out the window and see a large four-engined plane in the distance coming in for landing. Knowing it was too big to be an A340, I figured it was a 747 and I thought I'd wait to watch a 747 land since we don't get many of those in MSP (one a day) and as it got closer, I'm thinking that it's too big to be a 747 but the idea of an A380 didn't dawn on me. Only when it got relatively closed did I realize it was an Emirates A380 and I just stood there in awe, as it was much bigger than I thought it would be.
Looking forward to seeing some more A380s in a couple of weeks - going through LHR and JFK in 2 weeks, and probably going to LAX in 4 weeks.
TWA902fly From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 3048 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 10809 times:
first time i saw it was getting off a UA 777 ORD-LHR, an SQ version at LHR. It was parked next to us and the walk from the gate to customs was up high and it really seemed huge, making the 777 seem like nothing special next to it.
Similar experience a couple months back when i landed at LAX at night and saw a Qantas version parked between a plethora of underwhelming 747s.
'902
life wasn't worth the balance, or the crumpled paper it was written on
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11948 posts, RR: 37 Reply 10, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 10734 times:
It was kind of odd in my case, because I saw it "live" for the first time last November in Dubai, but it was only a little time afterwards that it dawned on me - "this is the first time I've actually seen it"; all the other times were on tv, on Youtube, in articles etc etc.
Although I thought of it as kind of stubby and not as graceful as the 747 or 777, it still looked pretty smart climbing out of DXB in its EK livery.
Jet-lagged From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 849 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 10682 times:
Several weeks ago I took an early train to Narita so I could catch a glimpse. And I did, an SQ beast far away as I stood in front of the immigration counter. As it rotated during push-back, I was struck how odd it looked being tall and skinny. Twenty minutes later I saw it take off, but it was a slow climb and it wallowed into the sky. It is much better seeing it in person than in video, and if the -900 stretch comes that will be massive. Next time I'll take the train before, so I can see it at the gate!
ShyFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 10670 times:
My first siting of the jumbo came this past October @ LHR. It was parked next to a 744 and I recall not being terribly impressed with the 380's size, although it was clear is wasn't small.
Standing under the approach path to LHR's 27L, the size was a bit more apparent. I didn't find it quieter than the 747s going overhead.
Glom From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 2803 posts, RR: 10 Reply 14, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 10536 times:
First time I saw a Whale was at LHR. It was parked at pier 6 and I saw it as we arrived on 27L. It was a moment of, "Hang on! That's no... It is... It's not... It is! It's a Whale." It was just sitting at the gate like a normal plane. Spooky! Didn't get an impression of enormous size. But then I said that here before about the 747. They look smaller when you see them from middle distance.
The coolest time I saw one though was when I was driving back to Harrow from Acton. I was searching for the A40 but somehow ending up on the A4. I was heading out of the city to the M25 close to the approach path for the airport. I saw one aircraft on final. Observed for a second then went, "Hang on! That's no... It is... It's not... It is! It's a Whale." That's when it looked big. I said, "Follow that plane!" and started racing it to Hayes. It won.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12701 posts, RR: 80 Reply 15, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 10538 times:
Living (and working) at LHR, I should have seen them more than I have perhaps.
The first time was at it's first LHR visit back in 2006, a brief glimpse of it landing at some distance.
A few times then since, oddly enough, of it approaching LHR over London, at outdoor concerts.
I noticed each time quite a few people at these non aviation events noticing it too, even though planes are flying overhead constantly. It's not like the effect Concorde used to have but even so, non enthisiasts noticed it even though some 15 miles out from LHR it was still quite high up.
I was impresssed by the demo flight at last years Farnborough airshow, but more impressed just before Christmas when I happened to catch a SIA example taking off when I was near LHR's Northern runway.
Unlike the example at Farnborough, this was loaded up with pax, frieght and fuel, but the quietness of the take off astounded me.
TN486 From Australia, joined Jul 2008, 815 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 10475 times:
Quoting Glom (Reply 14): First time I saw a Whale was at LHR. It was parked at pier 6 and I saw it as we arrived on 27L. It was a moment of, "Hang on! That's no... It is... It's not... It is! It's a Whale." It was just sitting at the gate like a normal plane. Spooky! Didn't get an impression of enormous size. But then I said that here before about the 747. They look smaller when you see them from middle distance.
The coolest time I saw one though was when I was driving back to Harrow from Acton. I was searching for the A40 but somehow ending up on the A4. I was heading out of the city to the M25 close to the approach path for the airport. I saw one aircraft on final. Observed for a second then went, "Hang on! That's no... It is... It's not... It is! It's a Whale." That's when it looked big. I said, "Follow that plane!" and started racing it to Hayes. It won.
Off topic but I can relate to the way you portrayed your feeling and excitement in your post. On reading it I had an immediate flashback to my thoughts and feelings when I saw my first Jumbo (747-100), I was hurrying to catch the landing of the first Pan Am 747 into Singapore (sometime in 1970 or 1971 - I cant remember which year now). It won the race also as I got stuck in a traffic jam of those going to Paya Lebar for the same reason I was. I was so thrilled to see it, and I still love to see the Queen of the Skies take off whenever I go spotting at MEL.
remember the t shirt "I own an airline"on the front - "qantas" on the back
Directorguy From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1569 posts, RR: 12 Reply 18, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 10430 times:
I saw the A380 for the first time last week...I was arriving at DXB and saw 2 A380s tied up at the terminal (it was at 0300, presumably they were operating the 0800s to JFK anf LHR).
Just yesterday, I saw it for the second time while it was taking off from DXB and I caught it from my window and took a snap!!
it is not a jumbo that tag is for the 747 in my book.
The 380 is the whalejet or fat B%$£*&^D . I saw one in Sydney from both QF & SQ was not really impressed, but that may change when i do QF 32 from Sin to SYd on 23rd feb 09 on the 380
EDICHC From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 10037 times:
First sghting for me was at SIN T3 in October when connecting onto SQ298. Only saw it sitting at a nearby stand but sure as hell impressed me. I don't know why but it was only upon seeing it up close that I really noticed how pronounced the curved dihedral at the wing roots is.
DAL763ER From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 404 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 9499 times:
As I was standing at Gate 9, terminal 3 watching a movie on my macbook and peeking out the window on Nov 2nd, I saw it had just vacated 31L...I was very excited to see it for the first time ever! Does anyone know if it will show up at Le Bourget this year?
Quoting Mal787 (Reply 19): Quoting ShyFlyer (Reply 12):
My first siting of the jumbo came
it is not a jumbo that tag is for the 747 in my book.
The 380 is the whalejet or fat B%$£*&^D . I saw one in Sydney from both QF & SQ was not really impressed, but that may change when i do QF 32 from Sin to SYd on 23rd feb 09 on the 380
Mal 787
It's actually Super, not Jumbo. I don't know if Singapore or Qantas uses Super, but Emirates sure does.
Where aviation is not the side show, it's the main show!!!
RJ111 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 8856 times:
Quite an underwhelming first sighting for me. For some reason in over a year i have never got down to LHR to see one. Anyway, i dropped into Heathrow one evening as i was in the area, stayed for about 30 mins, but it got dark, so i started to drive off. I was sitting at a set of traffic lights at the far end of a runway and i saw this very looming jet crawl by. Had to look hard but after a while it was obvioulsy the A380 of SQ. Just looked like a big A300 in the dark.
Ayqzbr From Canada, joined Mar 2007, 60 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 8857 times:
Quoting EDICHC (Reply 21): it was only upon seeing it up close that I really noticed how pronounced the curved dihedral at the wing roots is.
That is the feature of the A380 that really strikes me. Looking straight at it, the curve of the wings is startling. The first time I saw it (demo trip through YVR), I thought it looked short and stubby. The quietness of its arrival compared with the 747s immediately before and after was, however, impressive. I have also seen it close up at a gate in SYD just after the SQ service started. Now I need to fly on it - from all accounts it is very quiet to travel in, although I am told that if you are sitting on the lower deck above the landing gear, you sure hear it all. Can anyone confirm that?
25 Highlander0: Farnborough 06. Just phenomenal to see it. Sat near the Agusta Pavillion, you just couldn't believe it. I remember sitting in one of the chalets talki
26 B747forever: First time I saw it was on the 21st of August at LHR. It looked really huge. This past friday when I arrived at LAX from LHR I saw two QF A380s, and t
27 Nycbjr: First time I saw it parked at the gate at jfk, thought cool, there she is but it didn't seem overly impressive. Second time however I was in a ERJ-145
28 Lufthansa411: First time I saw it was March of 2007. I was flying JFK-MUC-TXL on LH and due to an aborted take off as well as being number 42 for departure (gotta l
29 777STL: The airport police come out and block off the taxiways/tarmac to ground traffic due to the wingspan of the 380. That's what I observed when I flew on
30 DL767captain: Is that going to continue for a while? It seems like a lot of hassle to just get one aircraft over to the runway, what happens when there are multipl
31 A340ANDRE: The first time I saw the A380 was on 11 November at JFK. We were taxing for departure back to JNB on SA when I saw the EK giant standing at the gates
32 LY777: I saw the A380 a couple of times and I must say I wasn't impressed. I am much more impressed when I see a 77W, though smaller...
33 Gkirk: Seen it at LHR in october. Impressed by its size, but not it's performace. It's takes off just like an A340-300 - extremely slowly.
34 JetA380: I see the Sinapore and Qantas A380's on a daily bases in Sydney. You can't miss that tail towering above all the other planes when it is parked next t
35 B747forever: That is what I also thought. What will happen when carriers such as BA, AF, LH, SQ and so no will bring in their A380s??
36 Ba6590: My first sighting was a few days ago, we were in a holding pattern over London and i caught a glimpse of one circling behind us (EK). Can't wait to se
37 Robbie86: May be a bot off-topic but... At what time can one see EK's, SQ's and QF's 380 at LHR? Also what terminal do they use? I'm spending five hours there i
38 WestJetForLife: I think I saw an SQ A380 on stand at LHR back in August...I think I got a laugh from one of the flight crew when I said that "I didn't know whales had
39 DLRESAGNT: When I saw the 380 land in YUL, I was not that impressed with the size, in fact it looked small, really weird. I think it has to do with the proportio
40 Archer: Could you list the landing times and T.O. times at LAX. I am traveling there next month, just to see the A-380. Thanks
41 Phxtravelboy: The first time I saw the A380 in person was at LAX in October. I saw it make it's second landing of the day, after the media flight. It had arrived ea
42 BA319-131: - You kidding? - These birds are very very quiet, they go over my house every day, I can hear the 747's etc, but at times I never notice the 388 as i
43 Jacobin777: The first time I saw it was when it flew over my house....
44 DocLightning: I've seen her a few times. I saw her for the first time on the first day she flew to LHR. And on the next time I was at LHR she was there and we drove
45 Halophila: First sighting was first flight! SQ SIN-SYD in April 08. At the gate I thought: This bird isn't so big, but when i got onboard via the upper deck exit
46 Vald: does anyone know the reg of the a380 of the EK on LHR on the 24/12/07 please
47 Md94: I will be traveling a great deal with my new job and I cannot wait to see the A380. I have not seen one yet and I cannot wait to see one up close. I w
48 Grozzy: I think you really need to get up close to the A380 or have something else near it for comparison, On its own and from a distance it looks pretty ordi
49 CanyonBlue17: My mom saw it before me. Living under the landing pattern for JFK, when the A380 made her maiden voyage to the NYC area, I told dear mom about it. I t
50 ShyFlyer: Thanks. I shall plan a pilgrimage to Toulouse to offer penance. As hard as it is to believe, my ears couldn't tell the difference. It did sound diffe
51 AutoThrust: I don't understand such a comment. No offense, but how can you judge about its performance at one takeoff? The A380 is overpowered and is empty near
52 BHD: I too have taxied past the A380 3 or 4 times whilst in anopther plane at LHR, and it is the sheer size of the wingspan and how much it curves down whe
53 747400sp: Last night, I saw a QF A380 take off, and it was climbing at a pretty good rate for a big quad jet.
54 LipeGIG: My first time.... i was on JJ B767 flying JFK-GIG and got this view:
55 747400sp: You must not have herd the two take off on the LAX-SYD route. A 747 has a thunder like rumble, where and an A380 has a humming sound.
56 Levent: My first A380 sighting was at the Paris Air Show in 2005. At first she didn't look too impressive on the ground. It's only after seeing the aircaft ne
57 Golf1411: Saw the A380 for the first time in Le Bourget. Flew the first time with A380 9V-SKC in may 2008.
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