Not That Impressed With The A380

skinny · Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:21 pm

I got up last sunday all excited i was going to Heathrow to catch a glimpse of the Singapore A380.Could not wait saw it and while its a nice bird i was totally underwhelmed it looked small and awkward the wave of 747s and 777s impressed me far more anyone else feel this?

wingman · Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:26 pm

Nope, I think you're in an exclusive club of 1.

AirNZ · Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:29 pm

Quoting Skinny (Thread starter):
while its a nice bird i was totally underwhelmed it looked small and awkward the wave of 747s and 777s impressed me far more anyone else feel this?

You gotta be joking, right?

HeyWhaTheHay · Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:36 pm

When I saw it, I won't say that I was "underwhelmed"....it is with out a doubt an impressively HUGE aircraft. It's shear size was amazing.

I just think it's ugly, thats all.

hey

B6JFKH81 · Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:30 pm

Quoting Skinny (Thread starter):
it looked small and awkward

When the 380 came to visit JFK, I was standing outside with a bunch of people from different airlines and handling companies. Everyone was excited when it called into JFK Tower and as it turned final on 22L we were all saying how huge it looked. Then we saw it with a perfect profile view as it was touching down and at least 10 people could be heard saying "it looks kinda small and stubby" or "is that a double decker A310?" LOL! I too thought it was a little less impressive than the hype. When I got to be a little closer to it once it was at T1 I was a little more impressed standing in the shadow of the tail which was like a skyscraper.

There was another post quite a few months ago when the a/c visited JFK and this exact subject came up. It does look a bit smaller than it is, a lot of folks related that to its length not being as dramatic due to it being so tall (double decker) and the wings being so huge from leading to trailing edge. It is almost like an optical illusion.

But no, you are not the only one whose inital impression left something to be desired. I'm with you on that one.

longhauler · Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:47 pm

Let's face it, other than its size, it is nothing remarkable,

When filled it has the best seat mile cost of the sky ... but only when its filled!

Other than that, I keep thinking of being in a departure lounge with 500+ people and a long boarding/disembarking process. Or even worse, going through Customs with 500+ people at the same time, or waiting around the carousel for baggage with 500+ people.

To the passenger, it offers nothing that any other wide body aircraft could not offer.

skinny · Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:50 pm

Yes after all the hype i saw it come around the corner from teminal 2 to line up on 27R it just looked alot smaller than i imagined.It was right next to a continental 777 and it looked smaller.Agree as it rotated the wing span was huge and very impressive but i hope they stretch it then we will have a true giant.

[Edited 2008-07-26 09:52:00]

UltimateDelta · Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:00 pm

Quoting LongHauler (Reply 5):
Let's face it, other than its size, it is nothing remarkable

No, it certainly isn't. It's not particularly attractive, either.

Mortyman · Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:33 pm

Well the 300 version of the 777 is a little longer than the Airbus 380 - 800 but other than that the 747-400 and the 777-200 is smaller than the 380-800

A380-800 - Wing span 79.8m (261ft 10in), length 72,75m (238ft 8in). Height 24,08 m (79ft)

747 - 400 - Wing span 64.44m (211ft 5in), length 70.67m (231ft 10in), height 19.41m (63ft 8in).

777 - 300 - Wing span 60.93m (199ft 11in), or folded 47.32m (155ft 3in), length 73.86m (242ft 4in), height 18.51m (60ft 9in).

777-200 - Wing span 60.93m (199ft 11in), or folded 47.32m (155ft 3in), length 63.73m (209ft 1in), height 18.51m (60ft 9in).

Leskova · Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:18 pm

I'll agree on one point - it does look smaller than you'd expect: when I saw it being towed past the terminal here in Frankfurt back when LH was running the flight trials, I was really surprised, because I had expected it to look bigger.

Nonetheless...

Quoting LongHauler (Reply 5):
To the passenger, it offers nothing that any other wide body aircraft could not offer.

Reading the trip reports and hearing comments from people outside of a.net who've flown on one, I'd say most of them completely disagree with you. Haven't flown on it myself yet, so I can't comment on it myself.

Then again: is there ANY widebody (leaving aside the discussion whether or not the A380 does or doesn't) in service right now, that offers something that no other widebody in service right now can offer? No.

Quoting UltimateDelta (Reply 7):
No, it certainly isn't. It's not particularly attractive, either.

Well... neither is the B777... hasn't hurt its sales or performance...

The looks of a plane matter to aviation enthusiasts - they are, for the most part, pretty irrelevant compared to the cold, hard facts of operating costs.

Quoting LongHauler (Reply 5):
When filled it has the best seat mile cost of the sky ... but only when its filled!

According to SQ, it needs to be filled just above what one of their B747-400s can hold, and it'll beat that aircraft in cost already. Don't know how much it needs to be filled to beat an A330 or B777...

[Edited 2008-07-26 14:19:14]

warren747sp · Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:03 am

By all means it is not a good looking airplane. Double decking the whole lenght of the fuselage only makes it awful cosmetic wise compared to the 744.
plus all the premium features that you see on the original PR matericals such as showers, lounges, duty free stores simply just don't exist.
It is almost like an military transport planes converted into civilain use for utility purpose only.

Leskova · Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:34 am

Quoting Warren747sp (Reply 10):
showers

EK is installing showers for F-Class passengers.

Quoting Warren747sp (Reply 10):
lounges

Isn't QR putting lounge into their A380s?

Quoting Warren747sp (Reply 10):
duty free stores

I'm almost certain I read about one carrier planning those - wasn't it VS (if they ever end up actually operating A380s)?

Quoting Warren747sp (Reply 10):
simply just don't exist

... which seems to be more a case of "because the planes fitted with those things haven't been delivered yet" than that they're not being planned.

But, after all, we all know there's always a difference between what the marketing brochures say or show and what the actual plane will later look like... there is, unfortunately, often a great discrepancy. But that's more because no airframer has the power to decide what is actually going to be on the plane at the end, specifically in areas that could be filled with revenue-generating seats instead of one of the above.

Hywel · Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:40 am

I wasn't that impressed when I saw it at LHR a few months back... it wasn't quite 'as big' as I'd imagined it to be.

I still think the 747 is far more impressive, but that's just my opinion.

Here's a photo I took as we taxied past it:

[email protected] · Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:57 pm

I too was rather underwhelmed when i saw the A380. After reading and hearing everything about the "world's largest passenger plane", it didn't look remotely as big as i was expecting. Infact the 747 looks bigger, leaner and meaner than the A380, not only is it ugly, it just doesn't have the charisma and nostalgia the 747 has.

TrijetsRMissed · Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:30 am

All these posts about the A380's elegance, or lack thereof, point to why many of us a.netters will be very happy when the next 748I order occurs. And yes, it will happen, eventually. Wink

PGNCS · Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:19 pm

Quoting [email protected] (Reply 13):
Infact the 747 looks bigger, leaner and meaner than the A380, not only is it ugly, it just doesn't have the charisma and nostalgia the 747 has.

None of which sell airliners.

57AZ · Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:56 am

Quoting TrijetsRMissed (Reply 14):
All these posts about the A380's elegance, or lack thereof, point to why many of us a.netters will be very happy when the next 748I order occurs. And yes, it will happen, eventually

True. As for the lounges, don't worry. The 747 had them too, and before too long they were replaced with seats. The same will happen with the A380-just a matter of when.

zkeoj · Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:15 am

Funny you should say that. In a blog in November last year I wrote:

"After I checked in, and a good breakfast in the Qantas lounge, I had a chance to see the brand new A380! It was less than a month after it began its first scheduled service with Singapore Airlines between Singapore and Sydney, and so far it is the only A380 in commercial service. Funnily, the beast didn't even look that big. I assume that is because of the two decks the proportions are different than with a common plane? Anyway, it was great to even be able to see it take off into the skies!"

But it was amazing seeing it, and I can't wait to get on it in December Smile

Cheers
micha

grozzy · Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:08 am

If you look at the A380 from a distance, and assume its single deck it appears stubby and out of proportion. I don't think it will achieve the same iconic status as the concorde and 747.

keesje · Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:15 pm

Quoting Grozzy (Reply 18):
I don't think it will achieve the same iconic status as the concorde and 747.

It maybe has become an icon already.

Lets face it : everybody knows it, wanted to see it, discussed it, (dis) liked it.

Media were full of it for years. Check out Youtube: 6000 hits.

People leave their offices, stop their cars, travel to the airports to see it.

Google hits : 3.000.000 pages, 500.000 pictures. A.net? : 1400.

I think its hard to deny.

macc · Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:31 pm

Quoting Skinny (Thread starter):
I got up last sunday all excited i was going to Heathrow to catch a glimpse of the Singapore A380.Could not wait saw it and while its a nice bird i was totally underwhelmed it looked small and awkward the wave of 747s and 777s impressed me far more anyone else feel this?

Sure you didnt stand in front of EK's 380 model displayed there?

duck

kaneporta1 · Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:51 pm

Only when you stand underneath the wing, preferably under the outboard engine and look up, left and right, you will trully appreciate how incredible that aircraft is.

andaman · Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:19 pm

Quoting Warren747sp (Reply 10):
such as showers, lounges

Those sure are there already.
Emirates A380: shower in First Class, onboard lounges in First & Business.

http://www.emirates.com/english/flyi...t/emirates_a380/emirates_a380.aspx

soon7x7 · Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:06 am

Quoting Wingman (Reply 1):

Then his club has a new member..it's incredibly ugly...looks like a giant American SUV of the sky. The 747 , no matter what you do to it will always reign as the King/Queen! (choose your sexual prefernce) I feel the A346 is a more intruiging aircraft. The A380 is just BIG. Plop in a 60 foot plug and streamlini the nose and maybe, just maybe we'll give it another look.

skinny · Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:42 pm

Quoting Macc (Reply 20):

Actually i saw the plane that brought the A380 model to heathrow it was there the same day. Smile

474218 · Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:29 pm

Quoting Mortyman (Reply 8):
777 - 300 - Wing span 60.93m (199ft 11in), or folded 47.32m (155ft 3in), length 73.86m (242ft 4in), height 18.51m (60ft 9in).

777-200 - Wing span 60.93m (199ft 11in), or folded 47.32m (155ft 3in), length 63.73m (209ft 1in), height 18.51m (60ft 9in).

"or folded 47.32 (155ft 3in)" Since no one has ever odrered this option it seem odd that you would even mention it?

henkybaby · Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:44 pm

It certainly is one ugly airplane from the outside. Luckily passengers sit on the inside. The first 747's were also equipped with nice interior features. That soon got replaced by seats, seats and more seats. I wonder how long this will last on the A380.

keesje · Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:01 pm

Quoting Henkybaby (Reply 26):
It certainly is one ugly airplane from the outside.

I don't think so.

warren747sp · Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:21 pm

It looks really bad especially from the side.

henkybaby · Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:21 pm

Quoting Warren747sp (Reply 28):
It looks really bad especially from the side.

Indeed. There is no way I can ever see beauty in this design. It is not designed to be beautiful, it is designed to be BIG.

Viscount724 · Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:07 pm

Quoting Mortyman (Reply 8):
Well the 300 version of the 777 is a little longer than the Airbus 380 - 800

And the A340-600 is longer than both the A380 (by about 8 feet) and 773 (by about 5 feet).

Leskova · Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:39 pm

Quoting Henkybaby (Reply 29):
It is not designed to be beautiful, it is designed to be BIG.

It is actually designed to be efficient - and it seems to be doing a pretty good job at that.

Rockson · Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:50 pm

I thought this thread was about its size, and not about its looks, interiors or performance.

seansasLCY · Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:32 am

Quoting LongHauler (Reply 5):
:
To the passenger, it offers nothing that any other wide body aircraft could not offer.

It does offer the passenger more.
EK has installed showers in first as well as lounges in both First and Business class.
SQ has introduced suites.
The A380 is also the most spacious aircraft I've travelled on, so why you might not get any more room, the feeling of openness does make the journey better.
Its also much quiter than a 747 or 777 which is noticable when onboard.

Mortyman · Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:47 am

I think that when the 747 was first launced, it looked silly with the litle hump on top. It got much better looking when the 300 and 400 versions came along with the stretched upper deck. I'm sure it will be the same with the 380, when the 900 version gets launched. It will look much better.

The 747 SP also looks kind of silly I think.

SInGAPORE_AIR · Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:30 pm

Quoting Skinny (Thread starter):
to catch a glimpse of the Singapore A380.Could not wait saw it and while its a nice bird i was totally underwhelmed

That is unfortunate.

However, if you really want to be impressed with an A380, the only place to be is on board the Singapore Airlines A380. I am sure you will be far from underwhelmed !

afterburner · Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:21 am

Maybe the impressions would be quite different if Airbus launched the -900 first, instead of the -800.

Quoting Leskova (Reply 31):
It is actually designed to be efficient - and it seems to be doing a pretty good job at that.

And airlines don't buy/lease aircraft based on their looks.

ClassicLover · Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:25 pm

Quoting Leskova (Reply 11):
Isn't QR putting lounge into their A380s?

QF certainly are - there is a J lounge on board their A380s (which have the lowest passenger count of all the airlines who are introducing the A380 FYI) which the pax can use to relax or even for presentations (as there is a screen which can be plugged into a laptop).

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