Airbus Starts 380 Tests With Pax Today

Toulouse · Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:40 pm

As of today (September 4th) and over the coming days Airbus will start it's flights tests with passengers on board. Some 2.000 voluntary passengers (Airbus employees) who were selected from an internatl competition to participate will take part in the four flights this week all of a duration of between 7 to 14 hours duration, including one over-night flight.
These tests flights will mainly be aimed at testing the cabin functions, from seats, to lights, air-conditioning, lavatories, gallies, everything involved in a passenger flight.
I have two friends flying on the over-night flight, so hope to be able to give you all some of their opinions later this week.
Here is a link, only in French l'm afraid (unfortunately I don't ahve time to translate it this morning, perhaps somebody else can or use the google translation tool to give you an idea of the contents).
Good luck 380!
Edit: Sorry! Forgot to add link
http://www.orange.fr/bin/frame.cgi?u...et--une/060904053051.1lh0r5ym.html

[Edited 2006-09-04 08:49:45]

Qatara340 · Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:42 pm

Nice information! I wish I could be one of those people. The sight of such a plane is enough for me!

macc · Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:24 pm

do they fly to destinations or just circle around homebase?

centrair · Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:25 pm

I heard they are just flying it around on flights from TLS-TLS. For a 14 hour flight from TLS-TLS where would they fly: one lap around Europe or one lap around the Atlantic?

Toulouse · Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:58 pm

Yes they just fly around, departing TLS and returning to TLS. Just drove out to the airport as I was wondering if the lucky pax would depart from the airport or from the Airbus site on the otherside of Toulouse Blagnac Airport.

Well funny to see the Departures screen at Toulouse this morning with the following flight:

Departure time: 10:00 Destination: Toulouse! Airline: Airbus Flight No. XL 001 Check-in gate: C31-C32. Boarding open.

See link to live TLS departures:

http://www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/fr/D...=B2C042CD&UIDcNode=B2C042CD&page=3

Flight XL001 is due to arrive (back) at TLS at 17:00.

Quite a lot of TV crews inside the terminal, especially upstairs near the restaurant with the good viewing area of the apron.

The 380 (couldn't see reg. no.) ws parket near the cargo area beside the regional a/c apron at Hall A, so it was amazing to see the 380 parked near an AF Emb 175 and an Iberia CRJ-200. Also great to see the 380 with stairs, passenger buses, catering being boarded, just like any normal flight.

And for it's first pax flight it departed 10 minutes early, at 9:50!

knoxibus · Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:07 pm

Yeah I was quite surprised to see it take-off early.

I'm a bit disappointed they could not put it at one of the jetways...

I'm doing the XL002 tomorrow, take-off at 10:00, and we come back at 20:00.

LH crew is taking care of us.

We are using the MSN 002 F-WXXL since it's the only one with a proper cabin.

Toulouse · Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:29 pm

I'm not a great photographer, have a fairly standard digital camera. So ran out to my garden to photo it, even though planes photoes from my garden are usually just a spot in the photo, my eager pressing on the zoom made me discover my camera had extra zoom I didn't know it had, so got some photos that aren't too bad! Not good enough probably for a.net, so uploaded on my profile page. So here are photos for you of the first A380 test flight with full pax load taken from my garden on this sunny and warm morning in Toulouse.
Enjoy! (I'm sure some better photos will appear shortly). First photo shows it shortly after take off heading north, and shortly later she came back in a southerly direction straight over my house (next 2 photos):

https://www.airliners.net/uf/view.fil...0422&filename=115735793152HBDi.jpg

https://www.airliners.net/uf/view.fil...0422&filename=11573580538l9cE6.jpg

https://www.airliners.net/uf/view.fil...0422&filename=1157358225uRQJxa.jpg

leelaw · Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:00 pm

Quoting Toulouse (Reply 6):
shortly later she came back in a southerly direction straight over my house

leelaw · Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:05 pm

Quoting Knoxibus (Reply 5):
I'm doing the XL002 tomorrow, take-off at 10:00, and we come back at 20:00.

Do you know yet whether you'll be sitting in premium or economy seating?

WINGS · Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:17 pm

Quoting Knoxibus (Reply 5):

I'm doing the XL002 tomorrow, take-off at 10:00, and we come back at 20:00.

LH crew is taking care of us.

We are using the MSN 002 F-WXXL since it's the only one with a proper cabin.

You have no idea as to how many people on A.net will be envying you at this moment.

Hope you enjoy your flight tomorrow. Don't forget to write up a trip report for us all Smile

Regards,
Wings

autothrust · Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:04 pm

Flight XXL XL 001 - Toulouse

Numéro de vol : XL 001

Type Avion : 380 AIRBUS

Funny designations looks almost like Airforce One just XXL. Big grin

Quoting WINGS (Reply 9):
You have no idea as to how many people on A.net will be envying you at this moment.

Indeed, that is a one in a lifetime experience. I would like to see some pictures of the interior. Smile

leelaw · Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:15 pm

Quoting AutoThrust (Reply 10):
I would like to see some pictures of the interior.

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...afety+briefing+and+evacuation.html

[Edited 2006-09-04 12:26:24]

alaskaqantas · Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:16 pm

Quoting Knoxibus (Reply 5):
I'm doing the XL002 tomorrow, take-off at 10:00, and we come back at 20:00.

LH crew is taking care of us.

We are using the MSN 002 F-WXXL since it's the only one with a proper cabin.

I guess this is for anyone who's flying... is IFE included? and what about economy/business class/First class is there any difference or anything?

take some photos and write a tripe report!!! AND have FUN!!
~Cheers-
~~Kyle H.
I hope to get on SQ's first A380 flight!

knoxibus · Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:23 pm

Quoting Leelaw (Reply 8):
Do you know yet whether you'll be sitting in premium or economy seating?

Well since I am a specialist (supposedly Yeah sure

) (between 20-30 on board), I believe I have more opportunities of getting a good seat than the normal Airbus employees who got drafted through the lottery. However I do not know yet my exact location, we'll see tomorrow morning.

Quoting WINGS (Reply 9):
You have no idea as to how many people on A.net will be envying you at this moment.

Ok, maybe I should not mention what I have done through my secondment with the A380 flight test team and aircraft preparation team for the past month Big grin

.

Quoting WINGS (Reply 9):
Don't forget to write up a trip report for us all

Cameras and DVs are obvisouly forbidden, but I'll do my best, without infringing the rules, to provide you with a fair view of how the flight went, including boarding and everything, since this time we are going through the airport. (Usually we go directly on-board the aircraft from the "Abreuvoir" at the Airbus delivery center.)

leelaw · Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:44 pm

Airbus A380 takes off for first Early Long Flight from Toulouse with 474 passengers on board

Airbus kicked off the A380’s “early long flight” (ELF) test programme this morning, when development aircraft MSN002 (F-WXXL) took off from Toulouse with 474 passengers on board...

...The four ELF tests, which are round-trips from Toulouse, will take place this week and last 7h, 10h, 12h and 15h respectively. The flights will be operated as a standard airline service. One of the trips will be night flight, to cover all types of flight conditions. The shorter flights will route through France, Spain, the UK and Germany. The longer flights will be flown as far as to Norway in the north and to the Canary Islands in the south...

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...ulouse+with+474+passengers+on.html

...

centrair · Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:35 pm

Quoting Leelaw (Reply 14):

That answered my question...its laps around Europe.

GBOAB · Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:37 pm

Passed over Central London at 41000ft 15 minutes ago

OldAeroGuy · Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:29 pm

Quoting Centrair (Reply 3):
I heard they are just flying it around on flights from TLS-TLS. For a 14 hour flight from TLS-TLS where would they fly: one lap around Europe or one lap around the Atlantic?

Does anyone know when the A380 F&R testing that involves flying to different locations to check how well the airplane functions within the air transport operating system, both in the air and on the ground, will be done?

comet4b · Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:40 pm

For anyone who is interested ,and may not know about it,there is a web site called Heathrow Television.On it there is an excellent 8min video of the A380
visit to London. There is a lot of great stuff on this site.

RichardPrice · Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:50 pm

Quoting OldAeroGuy (Reply 17):
Does anyone know when the A380 F&R testing that involves flying to different locations to check how well the airplane functions within the air transport operating system, both in the air and on the ground, will be done?

Isnt it already going on, since its been to several airports for 'compatability testing' so far?

ZRH · Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:03 pm

Quote:
Ces tests ne font pas partie des essais techniques de l'A380 pour sa certification de vol, attendue par Airbus fin 2006, juste avant la première livraison commerciale à la compagnie Singapore Airlines.

Interestingly these flights do not belong to the normal technical certification programme. They are only to test the functional efficiency and comfort of the passengers facilities.

OldAeroGuy · Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:15 pm

Quoting RichardPrice (Reply 19):
Quoting OldAeroGuy (Reply 17):
Does anyone know when the A380 F&R testing that involves flying to different locations to check how well the airplane functions within the air transport operating system, both in the air and on the ground, will be done?

Isnt it already going on, since its been to several airports for 'compatability testing' so far?

That's the question I'm asking. It depends on the nature of the tests. If EASA/FAA observers have been on board and the airplane is handled as a normal airline aircraft, then it's F&R testing and counts toward certification.

With these conditions, it could be Airbus fit check testing only.

leelaw · Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:51 pm

Quoting Toulouse (Reply 4):
Well funny to see the Departures screen at Toulouse this morning with the following flight:

Departure time: 10:00 Destination: Toulouse! Airline: Airbus Flight No. XL 001 Check-in gate: C31-C32. Boarding open.

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...ulouse+with+474+passengers+on.html

amritpal · Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:59 pm

nice pics, don't forget to write trip report eh

deputydawghere · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:18 am

Thanks for the information and pics bud. Damn, those people sure are lucky.

Ringway · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:34 am

Quoting GBOAB (Reply 16):
Passed over Central London at 41000ft 15 minutes ago

This would have been a fantastic site, even at such altitude. Did you happen to see the aircraft?

A520 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:35 am

Apparently, and according to TLS airport, it landed at 17:03

http://www.toulouse.aeroport.fr/fr/ArriveeDuJour.asp

Edit note: you have to select "Toulouse" in the "Provenance" field.

[Edited 2006-09-04 17:39:47]

billreid · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:39 am

Anyone who wants to sit on an airplane for eight hours and go nowhere needs to have his koolaid checked. I fly about 130,000 miles every yearand the thought of sitting in an airplane for ten hours as a test makes me gag.

perhaps these volunteers need to get a life. When the aircraft is in service in the next year or two we can join some on board and test who is the most bored person in the aircraft.

FLYING AS A PAX IS PURE BOREDOM!

marcus380 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:42 am

the flight has landed at 17h03
fligh tnr XL 001

to morrow another flights are taking off:
XL002 at 10 am this time landing at 8:00 pm (10 hours flight)

the 6/9 XL003 take off at 7 pm arriving the 7 at 7 am (there must be a stop somewhere or a mistake!)

the 8/9 XL004 takes offat 7 am
no arrival scheduled...

source : toulouse airport site
www.toulouse-aeroport.fr

company: airbus

enjoy

Gman94 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:44 am

Does anyone know out of interest if the interior that they are testing is one which has been completed for one of the airlines that have ordered the A380 or is it an Airbus test layout?

cobra27 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:45 am

Quoting BillReid (Reply 27):
FLYING AS A PAX IS PURE BOREDOM!

Not if you are pulling some geees in F-16

[Edited 2006-09-04 17:46:25]

[Edited 2006-09-04 17:47:23]

Toulouse · Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:52 am

Quoting BillReid (Reply 27):
Anyone who wants to sit on an airplane for eight hours and go nowhere needs to have his koolaid checked. I fly about 130,000 miles every yearand the thought of sitting in an airplane for ten hours as a test makes me gag.

perhaps these volunteers need to get a life. When the aircraft is in service in the next year or two we can join some on board and test who is the most bored person in the aircraft.

Ah come on Bill. While I wouldn't volunteer to sit in a plane for hours either, lots of these people have been working on this project, so that simply will make them so enthusiastic to participate in such a flight, others get to visit Toulouse (like one of my friends who works for Airbus Spain, and hasn't never been here, so she's mixing a 380 flight with spendning a day sightseeing) and then they also get a day off work!

Leelaw, thanks for all your excellent photos and updates, and for posting one of my photos I took from my garden (I couldn't figure out how to post it, thus the links, thanks!)

GBOAB · Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:04 am

Quoting Ringway (Reply 25):
Did you happen to see the aircraft?

I live in N London so only saw the trail heading SW
This is the poor quality photo I took

Big version: Width: 800 Height: 533 File size: 487kb

jcf5002 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:49 am

Quoting GBOAB (Reply 32):
I live in N London so only saw the trail heading SW
This is the poor quality photo I took

Lucky grab! Interesting how the outboard engine contrail curls up and over the others... Very 747-like. That'll be awesome to see some of the high-telescopic photos we see here once in a while.

-Jeff

AJO · Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:54 am

Quoting Marcus380 (Reply 28):
the 6/9 XL003 take off at 7 pm arriving the 7 at 7 am (there must be a stop somewhere or a mistake!)

12 hour flights are pretty common nowadays, the A380 should be able to operate one without problems.

jetblueatjfk · Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:55 am

I don't know if I would want to be on the longer flights, but I would like to fly those shorter ones, sitting there for like 10 hours to land back at TLS wouldn't be that exciting, unless they put in those crazy ideas like a mall and a bowling alley, then I'd opt for the long one. wink

B6atjfk

JCS · Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:17 am

Quoting Marcus380 (Reply 28):
the 8/9 XL004 takes offat 7 am
no arrival scheduled...

Knock knock knock . . .

That sounds not good... Is there so few trust in the product?

A520 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:29 am

A few comments of passagers heard on the radio after the completion of the flight:

- "a lot of place available! feels very confortable!"
- "one feels at home. I could have staid 15 hours"
- "toilette flushing is not that efficient" ... whatever it means!?

[Edited 2006-09-04 19:31:48]

[Edited 2006-09-04 19:32:12]

WingedMigrator · Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:17 am

Quoting Jcf5002 (Reply 33):
Interesting how the outboard engine contrail curls up and over the others... Very 747-like.

They call it a wake vortex Big grin

marcus380 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:18 am

Quoting AJO" class=quote target=_blank>AJO (Reply 34):
12 hour flights are pretty common nowadays, the A380 should be able to operate one without problems.

Dam, AJO !!!
I even forgot how to calculate, I counted 20 hours !!

The comments on french TV of the passengers
"fantastic silence"...

cheers

steph001 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:50 am

Hi, first of all, congratulations to Airbus for this first flight with pax and to the first lucky passenger and crew. I happened to notice that there were only 474 pax onboard, AFAIK the A380 will hold something between 500 and 800 passengers. I was wondering why the number of passengers on the test flight was so low, is this typical to the first test flight with pax?

ordryan28 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:59 am

such an amazing instrument. well, all I have to say is good luck Airbus.

samair · Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:57 am

ive only got as far as seeing the a380 fly low south of perpignan in may/june sure is a nice plane to watch though

alphafloor · Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:06 am

To see interesting video footage of the interior during flight today :

http://info.france2.fr/eco/23872485-fr.php

-> Vidéos -> click on "La satisfaction des passagers du vol A380"

eha · Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:10 am

Quoting Marcus380 (Reply 28):
the 6/9 XL003 take off at 7 pm arriving the 7 at 7 am (there must be a stop somewhere or a mistake!)

the 8/9 XL004 takes offat 7 am
no arrival scheduled...

12Hrs non-stop for F3, so no mistake, 15 Hrs for F4, landing should happen around 10pm....

A bit long for a Friday "working day"....
E.

alaskaqantas · Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:36 am

Quoting BillReid (Reply 27):
Anyone who wants to sit on an airplane for eight hours and go nowhere needs to have his koolaid checked. I fly about 130,000 miles every yearand the thought of sitting in an airplane for ten hours as a test makes me gag.

perhaps these volunteers need to get a life. When the aircraft is in service in the next year or two we can join some on board and test who is the most bored person in the aircraft.

FLYING AS A PAX IS PURE BOREDOM!

these people have been working hard on this project for a long time... it must be such a reward to be able to fly on it for them!!! Although I can se what you are talking about... I personally love flying, but people who work for my dad and fly all over the place say that it gets boring after a while.

Hope you enjoy the flight!!
~Cheers-
~~Kyle H.

AC345 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:50 am

Quoting Alphafloor (Reply 43):
To see interesting video footage of the interior during flight today :

http://info.france2.fr/eco/23872485-fr.php

-> Vidéos -> click on "La satisfaction des passagers du vol A380"

Great videos, great images, I was struck by how beautiful and composed the airplane looked at touch down. The take off looked also awe-inspiring, the comments from passengers were great (lots of space, very silent, very smooth), so I can't wait to board one of these birds in the near future.

jacobin777 · Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:04 am

Quoting Alphafloor (Reply 43):
To see interesting video footage of the interior during flight today :

merci for the link... checkmark

quite interesting...an incredible machine it is!

DeC · Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:27 am

Amazing videos! Does anyone have links to downloadable ones please?

Thanks,
D

atnight · Tue Sep 05, 2006 6:28 am

Quoting BillReid (Reply 27):
Anyone who wants to sit on an airplane for eight hours and go nowhere needs to have his koolaid checked. I fly about 130,000 miles every yearand the thought of sitting in an airplane for ten hours as a test makes me gag.

perhaps these volunteers need to get a life. When the aircraft is in service in the next year or two we can join some on board and test who is the most bored person in the aircraft.

FLYING AS A PAX IS PURE BOREDOM!

Excuse us for your boredom experience in flying, I guess you only fly because you HAVE TO, but not because you want to.... But many people love to fly, because they want and can (like me!).... yet that doesn't mean those folks "need a life" as you so eloquently put it.... I think you shouldn't pass judgement on someone's else life or activity if that particular activity has become boring to you....
Perhaps your point of view is different, but again, don't ridicule people who have being looking for a long time to fly on this amazing aircraft.... As other a.netters have said, many of the volunteers on this flight (and the ones to follow) have worked really hard in making this aircraft, so why not enjoy a day flying instead of working? wouldn't they like that?

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