hotplane From UK - England, joined Jul 2006, 783 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 18356 times:
I couldn't find any info on hear about this, so hear we go. I heard a rumour that a rather nice A380 is being rolled out at DXB later next week. Possibly a VIP aircraft? Anyone know anymore?
LAXspotr From United Arab Emirates, joined May 2005, 81 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 18142 times:
Yes, there will infact be a nice A380 rolling out of the hangar at DXB within the next few days! It will be A6-EDN, the 14th EK A380. The delivery of this aircraft allows Emirates to resume serving JFK with the superjumbo.
Mudboy From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1167 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 17720 times:
Quoting LAXspotr (Reply 1): Emirates to resume serving JFK with the superjumbo.
Awesome!!! That means I will have a 4th EK 380 to look for flying over Iraq CDG, LHR, MAN and JFK.
Anyone know which departure time it will be, it usually flies over Balad around 2:20 into the flight?
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 5, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 17720 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 3): I don't think VIP planes are a priority.
The flying palace belongs to bin Talal of Saudi Arabia not to anyone in Dubai unless Sheikh Mohammad ordered his own secret 380 we don't know of?
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Emirates2005 From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 237 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 17336 times:
Well, I think it would be rather nice to have a different painting on the A380. I recall EK launching a 1:200 scale model of the A380 with golden zebra stripes to commemorate the World Cup in South Africa. I truly wish someone would come up with a livery like the one of Cathay (below) on an A380.
Thorben From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 16212 times:
Quoting hotplane (Thread starter): I couldn't find any info on hear about this, so hear we go. I heard a rumour that a rather nice A380 is being rolled out at DXB later next week. Possibly a VIP aircraft? Anyone know anymore?
What do you mean with "rather nice"?? And why at DXB? They are produced at TLS and get their interior at XFW. None of the birds currently operated by EK, LH, AF, SQ, or QF is going to be a VIP version for a long time.
It takes probably two years to outfit an A380 with
Quoting Emirates2005 (Reply 6): Well, I think it would be rather nice to have a different painting on the A380. I recall EK launching a 1:200 scale model of the A380 with golden zebra stripes to commemorate the World Cup in South Africa. I truly wish someone would come up with a livery like the one of Cathay (below) on an A380.
A special livery might be a possibility. I'd love to see one.
BrouAviation From Netherlands, joined Jun 2009, 981 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 14345 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 3): I don't think VIP planes are a priority.
Huh? (V)VIP planes usually have no or close to no discount on list prices, and thus aircraft manufacturers love every single customer that buys them, as they sell them with good margins. It wouldn't surprise me if Bin Talal pays 150% for his airframes compared to the price EK pays per airframe.
Quoting Emirates2005 (Reply 6): I recall EK launching a 1:200 scale model of the A380 with golden zebra stripes to commemorate the World Cup in South Africa. I
wdleiser From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 958 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 7918 times:
Quoting Thorben (Reply 9): It takes probably two years to outfit an A380 with
Out of curiosity, why does it take so long to install a custom interior on VIP jets(G5, GlbExps', Citation X's, and BBJ)?
I mean hell, alot of custom houses don't even take that long from foundation setting to move in. How does installing Blood Diamonds, Ft Knox Gold, Baby Seal and Mink Fur, Panasonic Tv's, 14 Beds, a Jacuzzi Tub, a Kenmore Elite Refridgerator, and 1 Espresso Machine take 2 years to install in a structure that is already built??!?!
aerorobnz From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6326 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7383 times:
Quoting wdleiser (Reply 12): I mean hell, alot of custom houses don't even take that long from foundation setting to move in
basically it all has to be rated for high G-force testing amongst many other tests and be compliant with any number of FAA regulations regarding emergency evacuation and aisle passageways and flammability ratings on the materials used and all sorts of other stuff which Airlines have to go through as well, but are easily fixed when interiors are 300 seats all the same and often of a generic design vs all sorts of custom stuff which all needs to be tested before it can be signed off...
GATechAE From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 79 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7335 times:
Quoting wdleiser (Reply 12): Out of curiosity, why does it take so long to install a custom interior on VIP jets(G5, GlbExps', Citation X's, and BBJ)?
I mean hell, alot of custom houses don't even take that long from foundation setting to move in. How does installing Blood Diamonds, Ft Knox Gold, Baby Seal and Mink Fur, Panasonic Tv's, 14 Beds, a Jacuzzi Tub, a Kenmore Elite Refridgerator, and 1 Espresso Machine take 2 years to install in a structure that is already built??!?!
I have a friend that works for a cabinet contractor, and they have this VIP client with a 10k square foot house whos bathroom installations have been going on for a year because they are customizing everything, with different fixtures and themes in each bathroom (theres like 12 or something).
What are these?Pancakes?*gets force fed one*Oh oh, these are delectable.Good news Flappy, I've decided not to kill you!
PM From India, joined Feb 2005, 6716 posts, RR: 65 Reply 15, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7078 times:
Quoting hotplane (Thread starter): I heard a rumour that a rather nice A380 is being rolled out at DXB later next week. Possibly a VIP aircraft? Anyone know anymore?
A "mystery A380" is verging on the impossible. Only a little over fifty have flown and we know where each one of those is. A "mystery A380" would imply that Airbus have sneakily built an A380 while no-one was looking and flown it to Dubai. With the amount of attention given to every convoy, first flight and delivery, that is simply impossible. Nor is it remotely likely that an existing operator has - bizarrely - sold one of their frames for conversion to VIP.
Dalavia From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 398 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5721 times:
Well, trying to make sense of the "evidence" presented here, my tip is a special paint scheme on EK A380 A6-EDN to celebrate Emirates' 25th anniversary.
We seem to know the plane is built and will soon be rolled out, and a re-paint could happen behind closed doors in DXB.
Emirates2005 From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 237 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 4578 times:
Quoting PM (Reply 15): A "mystery A380" is verging on the impossible. Only a little over fifty have flown and we know where each one of those is. A "mystery A380" would imply that Airbus have sneakily built an A380 while no-one was looking and flown it to Dubai. With the amount of attention given to every convoy, first flight and delivery, that is simply impossible. Nor is it remotely likely that an existing operator has - bizarrely - sold one of their frames for conversion to VIP.
Although I understand your point and this may be perfectly valid. I don't think "hotplane" meant a new, never seen before, blah blah blah...plane. His post has stirred interest as to what is happening with presumably A6-EDN. I still keep my fingers crossed it is a 25th Anniversary livery, but I am starting to be increasingly skeptical about it as 15th October 2010 marked the day and no special plane in sight. They might have missed the train or are working on upgrades. Only EK Engineering could shine a light on this "mystery".
hotplane From UK - England, joined Jul 2006, 783 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 3822 times:
Applogies for any possible confusing info. At the time of my original post I didn't have any more news other than what I posted. The more I think about it though the more EDN in a special scheme seems to make sense.
Aesma From France, joined Nov 2009, 4788 posts, RR: 9 Reply 19, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3367 times:
Quoting BrouAviation (Reply 11): Huh? (V)VIP planes usually have no or close to no discount on list prices, and thus aircraft manufacturers love every single customer that buys them, as they sell them with good margins. It wouldn't surprise me if Bin Talal pays 150% for his airframes compared to the price EK pays per airframe.
But we're not talking about an A32S ACJ or a VIP 330/340, we're talking about an A380, a program that is still late and ramping up. Whatever the price a VIP pays is irrelevant considering there are airlines waiting for their planes.
However now that I think of it, considering Hamburg seems to be the choking point currently, and that VIP planes are usually customized by specialists, it could be envisioned that a VIP could get an early slot. But we'd hear about it years before the final rollout.
Sarkozy has had an A330 being customized for more than a year and it's still not finished.
New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26701 posts, RR: 83 Reply 20, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3356 times:
The only official Airbus A380CJ is MSN002, which I believe is still at TLS.
I agree that this is most likely some type of special livery for EK.
Does DXB have a paint hanger? Or are we thinking something more short-term using removable decals?
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21481 posts, RR: 24 Reply 21, posted (2 years 6 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 3134 times:
Quoting Aesma (Reply 19): Sarkozy has had an A330 being customized for more than a year and it's still not finished.
That aircraft (ex-Swissair, Swiss, Air Caraibes) made an around-the-world test flight last week, spending a day or so at 4 French territories -- Reunion, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Martinique. I think it originated and terminated at Bordeaux where Sabena Technics has been doing the interior conversion.
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