Category: A380

First commercial A380 ready for last Check-up

siaa380thumb.jpgToday, the first commercial Airbus A380 (F-WWSA MSN 003 – will be 9V-SKA), fully painted in Singapore Airlines colors, left Hamburg (Germany) back to Toulouse (France).

In Hamburg the plane was painted and the whole cabin furnishing was done including seat arrangement and interior. The A380 is virtually ready now for delivery. In Toulouse the coming weeks last system check-ups will be made before its delivery to Singapore Airlines, maybe already in September or even August. 😉

Update – Photos of landing in Toulouse

Click here for more pictures …

First Airbus A380 to be delivered in August or September?

Challenges.fr is reporting Singapore Airlines may receive their first Airbus A380 already in September or even in August!

Louis Welsh, chairman of Airbus and co-president of the executive committee of EADS just explained in June at Le Bourget, the A380 is in good way to be delivered to Singapore Airlines in early October.

The installation of a new common software and installation of wiring electric the last weeks raised hope for a delivery at this date or even earlier.

The delivery to Singapore Airlines could take place in September, certain internal sources evoking even August.

Source: http://www.challenges.fr/20070717.CHA7806/exclusif_airbus_preta_livrer_la380des_septembre.html

A380 Flight Test Team awarded prestigious Flight Award

The Airbus A380 Flight Test Team has received a prestigious Flight Award, recognizing the person or team that have displayed world-class professionalism in the manufacturing sector of propulsion, systems or avionics.

“Rarely has a team of this type worked in such intense publicity as the winners of this category. The kind of work they were doing inherently carries with it the risk of things going wrong – sometimes indeed, dangerously wrong. It is routinely performed against the most pressing of schedules, but is highly reliant on weather conditions, the co-operation of numerous airports and regulatory authorities, and the correct performance of hundreds of supporting individuals”, indicated Flight, explaining the selection. “Within two weeks of flying their aircraft for the first time ever, they took it to its maximum altitude and speed, and to the extremes of its manoeuvring range. By the time they finished the programme – on schedule – they had landed in 40 knots crosswinds and carried out accelerate-stop tests in a 575 tonne aircraft from more than 300 kilometres per hour. In short, the programme was a model of its kind. “

During the yearly Flight Award ceremony at the Pavillon d’Armenonville, Paris, on Monday 18th June, the representatives of the A380 Flight Test Team gratefully accepted the award. Claude Lelaie, Senior Vice President Flight Division, said “We accept this on behalf of the full A380 Flight Test and Engineering Team. We were only able to achieve this because of continuous and limitless efforts made by the team to make this the greatest aircraft, in all aspects. Our job was made easier by the excellent aircraft that we have had to bring to certification and maturity. From the very first flights we recognised its remarkable aerodynamic excellence, its excellent handling characteristics and outstanding performance.”

Commenting on the award, Airbus President and CEO, Louis Gallois, added: “It is an honor to be selected for this award by Flight’s own Award committee, as Flight has an excellent reputation in the industry. It is important for the whole of Airbus that the efforts made by the A380 Flight Test Team are rewarded in such a way.”

Since its maiden flight in April 2005, the A380, with 5 development aircraft flying, has now made over 1100 flights and more than 3700 flight hours.

A380 World Tour – Dates – Japan, Australia, Taiwan

Like posted recently, Airbus continues the Airbus A380 World Tour into the Asia-Pacific region.
Now here are the exact dates for the “MSN7” (F-WWJB) visits to Narita (Japan), Sydney (Australia), Taipei (Taiwan).

  • 4th – 6th June Narita (Japan)
  • 6th – 8th June – Sydney (Australia)
  • 8th – 10th June – Taipei (Taiwan)

Make sure to have your cameras ready! 😀

Further Information – Sydney
Parked at Hangar 96
June 06: Arrival 7.00 p.m
June 07: Departure 1pm – Return 2.30pm
June 08: Departure 8am

Qantas’ Airbus A380 gets suites, flat beds and revolutionary economy class seats

QANTAS’ first-class passengers will have private suites and business customers will get flat beds in the world’s biggest jetliner, industry sources said yesterday.

Economy passengers can also look forward to more comfort in new seats on the Airbus A380 aircraft, which is due to start flying to Melbourne late next year.

Airbus has announced an A380 demonstration model would visit Australia next month.

Qantas has ordered 20 super jumbos, which, typically, will have 525 seats over three classes.

It is believed first-class passengers will have private cubicles, while business class will feature a new Skybed that is fully horizontal.

The current Skybed is not completely flat.

Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti said yesterday his airline’s A380 would have between 450 and 500 seats, allowing more room for passengers.

Mr Borghetti would not comment on the first and business-class plans, but said economy passengers could look forward to a more comfortable seat.

“It’s got unique features in it that currently don’t exist,” he said.

“The economy class seat probably has the biggest change that’s happened to such seats for two decades.”

Qantas expects to start A380 passenger services in October next year, with a Melbourne to Los Angeles flight.

The plane will also be used on the Sydney-LA route and on the Kangaroo route to London.

Source: http://www.news.com.au

First Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Paint Shop Done

Airbus has painted the first A380 destined to enter airline service with launch operator Singapore Airlines (SIA) later this year. Aircraft MSN003 emerged from the manufacturer’s Hamburg paint hangar following installation of its passenger cabin in March, and testing of the associated systems last month.

Several passenger windows in the forward lower deck have been blanked off, suggesting that SIA has opted for an innovative first-class cabin design.

SIA says 100 painters worked over four shifts to hand-polish the 3,100m2 of fuselage surface area. The painting process took 21 days.

Click here to view photos and read the full article

More Photos at SIA A380 Gallery