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#118335 by Nottingham Nick
17 May 2006, 20:02
There is a big thread on it in the Clubhouse.

I won't post a link, but it isn't hard to find.;):D

Nick
#118342 by Airbus340
17 May 2006, 21:24
Thanks nick should have looked first
#118346 by virgin is the best
17 May 2006, 21:32
According to the BAA website the A380 will be arriving at LHR at 1200 midday. She will be parked at T3 so that BAA and Airbus can do ground tests.
#118445 by p17blo
18 May 2006, 13:46
According to the BBC website it is due to land at LHR 13:20.

Paul
#118448 by Airbus340
18 May 2006, 13:52
Originally posted by p17blo
According to the BBC website it is due to land at LHR 13:20.

Paul
seems about right it started to head for lhr at 1230 form filton
#118451 by fozzyo
18 May 2006, 14:11
Slightly OT, but just looking through the BBC News site about it they refer to it having three classes in "First, Business and Tourist".

Mat
#118462 by willd
18 May 2006, 15:27
Is here- arrived at 1.20 exaclty- bit of a crosswind on landing.

Will depart LHR at 7.00am tomorrow heading out over Eton and Windsor. Arrived over london down the thames.

Currently parked on stand 6 in T3- next to a 773 of EK and beyond that an MH 744. Stand 5 is now vacant though as EK has left for DXB- would be fab to see VS take the vacant gate!

Netiher BAA or Airbus have said exactly what tests will be run.
#118466 by Pete
18 May 2006, 15:43
Just got back from LHR myself.



She's big, but much quieter than I anticipated. A BA 747 landed just in front of her, and it was noticibly louder and looked very old fashioned in comparison!



There was a chase plane, as expected, that followed her all the way to the airfield.



Pete
#118467 by McCoy
18 May 2006, 15:48
I'm surprised she isn't in the livery of a local airline who has orders in..(!) she landed at SIN in SQ colors, and same in OZ with Qantas livery..
#118469 by Airbus340
18 May 2006, 15:54
I couldnt get over how big she is! Tonight on the itv news they said their going to be inside the A3801:D[y]
#118477 by mavml
18 May 2006, 17:12
There was live coverage on the BBC website & they went inside with a cameraman. It will be interesting to see whether people prefer the upper or lower decks when it goes into service.

The upper deck looked relatively narrow, something like a 767. There were some PE- type seats in there set out as 2+2+2. The lower deck though looked huge, but was full of ballast tanks so couldn't tell how it would be configured. Looked a fair bit wider than a 747 though, and it was interesting to see that it seemed wider at the top of the cabin than the bottom!
#118481 by VS045
18 May 2006, 18:03
Thanks for those pics, Pete[y]

VS.
#118486 by slinky09
18 May 2006, 18:26
Originally posted by McCoy
I'm surprised she isn't in the livery of a local airline who has orders in..(!) she landed at SIN in SQ colors, and same in OZ with Qantas livery..


There's been a lot of rumour about this, and the fact that the party after the landing wasn't in the Club House. Rumour suggests airbus are on a BA selling mission so didn't want to offend them with Virgin colours. Other rumours suggest SRB unhappy with all of the publicity and promotion and its lack of featuring VS. Even the BBC didn't mention Virgin as a customer featuring Singapore instead.

I'm also interested in why its been so long to fly to the UK, given that a large part of it was built here and that VS are a customer. Seems to have been all over the place ... perhaps some Gallic humour!
#118487 by jwhite9185
18 May 2006, 18:26
Saw it fly over work today. As Pete said, it was very quiet. I was quite surprised actually.
#118495 by Richard28
18 May 2006, 20:05
Thanks for the pictures pix - am very jealous!

posted by slinky09Rumour suggests airbus are on a BA selling mission so didn't want to offend them with Virgin colours.


didn't think of that - it would seem logical!

I have now watched back Sky news and BBC news coverage of the landing and did not hear Virgin mentioned once - I would have thought SRB would be all over this to get some publicity - but apparently not.

Where was he today I wonder?
#118499 by tallprawn
18 May 2006, 20:22
Cracking pictures Pete :D

A strange day though without any SRB antics, sets the mind thinking over why VS have had very little coverage over the course of today events....[:?]

Great to finally see the A380 at LHR though.........[y]
#118501 by fozzyo
18 May 2006, 20:34
It does look fantastic, it is growing on my though must say.

Shame no mention of VS though. I was looking at the SQ A380 site today, still no seat layouts on there yet. Have they got a confirmed first flight date yet?

Mat xxx
#118503 by wafren
18 May 2006, 20:50
we went to broughton it was amazing it did one pass then turned and did a go around got some good pictures and video[y]

Dave
#118509 by Denzil
18 May 2006, 21:46
All the SQ & EK big wigs are in town for the A380 into LHR as they will be the first & biggest into LHR. Rumour is that all 5 daily EK flights will be operated with the A380.

As for VS, adds fuel to the rumour that VS aren't going into the A380 operators list in the near future. Alternatively SQ wanted all the PR.
#118513 by slinky09
18 May 2006, 21:59
Originally posted by Denzil
All the SQ & EK big wigs are in town for the A380 into LHR as they will be the first & biggest into LHR. Rumour is that all 5 daily EK flights will be operated with the A380.

As for VS, adds fuel to the rumour that VS aren't going into the A380 operators list in the near future. Alternatively SQ didn't wanted all the PR.


I've heard that rumour too ... and the lack of Virgin presence might support it? The spin machine says VS not happy with their 346 experience, and not certain the 380 is what is required ... time will tell!
#118517 by McCoy
18 May 2006, 22:15
Really.. are we going to see VS B777s...?!
#118542 by Lipstick
19 May 2006, 00:55
What a let down and disappointment this aircraft was after all that hype!!

Lot's of people were muttering the phrase "Is that it?"

And i agree!!
#118544 by Pete
19 May 2006, 01:08
Personally I was quite awe-struck by the size and grace of the aircraft.
#118545 by pegitt
19 May 2006, 01:19
Originally posted by pixuk
Personally I was quite awe-struck by the size and grace of the aircraft.


Have to agree with you on that one Pete and so would all the other people who were around me at the time.
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