Widebody From Ireland, joined Aug 2000, 1150 posts, RR: 9 Posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 8006 times:
Yesterday seems to have changed the minds of a lot of people on the look/style of the A380 - the size, quietness, handling and so on. The landing was fabulous and the fly-by was like one I've personally never seen before. Having not been a great fan of the nose/two-deck design before yesterday, seeing the full package yesterday certainly put me back in line. The nose design melted into the background. Having loved the look of the 747 approach, the two A380 approaches yesterday eclipse anything I've seen before.
Johnnybgoode From Germany, joined Jan 2001, 2187 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 7668 times:
totally agree with all of you.
i think it's got something that until yesterday, most pictures were taken from the ground, from a low angle, and that even emphasized its dimensinos. but now you can see pictures of the bird in motion and seeing as it turns, it gives a whole different impression.
cheers
daniel
If only pure sweetness was offered, why's this bitter taste left in my mouth.
Jamie757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 7603 times:
I agree with that too!
A lot of changed opinions since yesterdays flight. It looked good on the ground, but even better in the air! Shame I couldn't be there to see it for real
Widebody From Ireland, joined Aug 2000, 1150 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 7345 times:
Hello again, yeah the whole package came together to form an amazing aircraft - the gear, the nose, the two decks, the engines, the huge wingspan and the livery. On the approach it wasn't even possible to make out what type of aircraft it was until it got close. Every part that previously looked oversized now looked in proportion when it was in the air. And very graceful in turns and rotation. Added to the fact that technically the flight went much better than expected with only some small minor issues. Very very good day.
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5540 posts, RR: 40 Reply 8, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 7289 times:
For me this bird was absolutely impressing and majestic in flying. I was amazed by the easiness she took off, although she already had 75 % (421 tonnes) of its MTOW. She only needed 1500 m (4921 feet) for take-off. I am wondering how much she needs with MTOW, probably less than any other existing wide-body.
XFSUgimpLB41X From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3952 posts, RR: 36 Reply 9, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 7093 times:
Anybody notice how far he floated down the runway before touching down? whoops.
Gearup From Canada, joined Dec 2000, 578 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 7037 times:
Quoting Widebody (Reply 7): Added to the fact that technically the flight went much better than expected with only some small minor issues. Very very good day.
She sure is an awesome looking aircraft and worthy to claim the title 'Queen of the Skies'. You mentioned some small minor issues, any idea what they were?
QantasA380 From Australia, joined Apr 2005, 212 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 6976 times:
I agree... my view hasn't changed a bit!! I always knew she'd look beautiful on the ground, and just 'plain' graceful in the air!!!! I've personally never seen any aircraft take-off or land so perfectly in my life, and given its size that's even more amazing...
Widebody From Ireland, joined Aug 2000, 1150 posts, RR: 9 Reply 13, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 6873 times:
Yeah but then I'd have to send one my servants to kill you.....! No seriously only indication stuff. There wasn't a single warning generated during the flight phase.
As for the landing, way down the runway alright but right in front of VIP area where intended!
777D From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 300 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (8 years 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 6690 times:
I really like Boeings however the A380 video that I viewed was awesome. The A380 is a "cool" looking plane. I have to ride on that plane, and sit in the upper deck. The flyby and the landing looked so smooth and easy. I am not sure is Seatac will ever be ready for the A380 but I will find a US airport and fly out of that city.
Motorhussy From New Zealand, joined Mar 2000, 2759 posts, RR: 10 Reply 16, posted (8 years 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 6584 times:
I think the stretched A380-900 will look even better. The fuselage will be more in proportion to the massive wing area and the tail won't have to be as tall.
Antiuser From Italy, joined May 2004, 657 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (8 years 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 5448 times:
Quoting AirPacific747 (Reply 18): is it just me or did it seem like it was so fast at accelerating
That was my impression too. I expected it to use quite a bit of runway, knowing it was loaded to simulate real operating weights, but that certainly wasn't the case. Hopefully that'll rid the A380 of the "underpowered" stigma that plagues the A340. From what I heard, they didn't even go past 85% N1 for takeoff, which isn't so surprising considering the engines and wings were designed with the A380-900 in mind.
Prebennorholm From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 6019 posts, RR: 55 Reply 21, posted (8 years 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 5016 times:
Quoting XFSUgimpLB41X (Reply 9): Anybody notice how far he floated down the runway before touching down? whoops.
That was on purpose. They obviously had no data on how its flares from a 3 deg. glideslope yet - those data will be collected during the test program.
He came in flat and fast and let it bleed off excess speed at two feet altitude, knowing that the runway was way too long for the featherlight plane.
Quoting Jat74l (Reply 20): I hardly think the 380 was loaded to capacity for it's first flight.
Take-off weight was 421 tonnes or almost exactly 75% of max take-off weight.
Rolling 1500m at such a low weight indicates that it must have been on reduced power. The rather shallow initial climb out also indicates that.
It spent four hours at low altitude, mostly with gear down, and I didn't notice that the leading edge slats ever were retracted. In such "dirty" configuration at low altitude it must have had a pretty high fuel burn, most likely over 100 tonnes. Landing at just over 300 tonnes is featherlight for that bird.
Always keep your number of landings equal to your number of take-offs, Preben Norholm
AA777223ER From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 220 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (8 years 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 4894 times:
Yes! Not only does "The Hunchback of Toulouse" scare me while crawling around on the ground... But now from the sky too! LOL
SLC1 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (8 years 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 4097 times:
maybe it's just the awe, but I must agree that once airborne, the A380 becomes a beautiful aircraft. maybe not the most beautiful aircraft.
think about it, when you see a 747, even when it's parked on the ground, it's still linked in your mind to images of it in the air that help you edit out what may be ugly about a land-bound plane. seeing the A380 takeoff seals the deal for me.
Caribb From Canada, joined Nov 1999, 1627 posts, RR: 9 Reply 24, posted (8 years 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 3849 times:
I was really impressed with it. It didn't change my opinion of it much except I was really taken by the size of the wings... they are massive!!.. more so than I realized. I had been uh, let's say, uncomfortable with the shape of the nose but since they came out with the Airbus A380 livery I've warmed up to it somewhat. I still don't think the plane is an exceptional technological leap or anything other than just being big but it will be fun to watch, spot and photograph as they land and take off all over the world.
[Edited 2005-04-29 05:22:16]
25 NAV20: I was impressed - it seemed to fly well, in terms of handling characteristics, as far as you could tell. And the pilot definitely seemed to like it. T
26 Jonathan L: I still don't care for how it looks, but beyond that it certainly is an amazing accomplishment. And of course the look of the aircraft doesn't matter
27 HAWK21M: A Test Flight gone as per plan.Thats what Airbus says. I guess after seeing the Aircraft perform,some opinions would change. It was undoubtly a fantas
28 FutureUALpilot: Shes still one of the ugliest aircraft Ive seen fly, but impressive none the less...my hat is off to Airbus, good work.
29 Boeing Nut: I have to agree as well. It looked awesome in flight.
30 Zephyrus: Witnessing the takeoff - and especially the landing - has to rank amongst the most emotional moments in my life as an aviation enthusiast. Her takeoff
31 Airboeing: Actually, there has been one, concerning the trap-door of a landing-gear. The alarm said it wasn't closed properly, but the Corvet that recorded the
32 Astuteman: Just looking at the sheer size of those wings - they've got to generate a LOT of lift (obviously..) - the A380 has an extremely LOW wing loading (wou
33 NorCal: I was utterly impressed with the A380 when it flew. Good job Airbus! I think the wings are the most unique things about this a/c. The size is so that
34 AirPacific747: I would love to become a pilot on that bird!
35 Pihero: Guys ! The pilot elected to touch down right in front of the VIPs stand which was also set up abeam the computed take-off point.(Confirmed by an AI en
36 Widebody: That was an ECAM indication AirBoeing, not a system ECAM warning.
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From Ireland, joined Aug 2000, 1150 posts, 
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whoops.
From Canada, joined Dec 2000, 578 posts, 
From Australia, joined Apr 2005, 212 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Mar 2000, 2759 posts, 
From Denmark, joined May 2008, 2091 posts, 
is it just me or did it seem like it was so fast at accelerating? lol it was amazing!!!
From Italy, joined May 2004, 657 posts, 
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