A380 Super Jumbo Fly - Past

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drmitch - I love that picture! What a cool find, I'll bet your heart skipped a beat when you saw that - and the frame, I would have needed oxygen!

That Airbus is way cool - how fortunate you were to see that up close and personal, Mike. I saw a bit of the plane on CNN today, it's like a palace - for the first class passengers. Those of us in steerage can only see it on TV ;-)
 
Mike----

Thanks for sharing your experience with the 380. Very kool. Unfortunately, only a few U.S. airports can handle them (at least for now) and Atlanta is one who decided not to accomodate them. I guess I'll have to wait untill I can get to JFK or LAX to actually see one in operation.

Singapore Airlines should be the first into LAX with them---this fall I think. Funny---some of the carriers are already pushing Airbus for a "stretched" version. Not surprising, but won't it be a joy waiting for your luggage with nearly a thousand other people!
 
That I would not look forward to--riding with 1000 other people-and yes the baggage wait--even worse-if you have to get off the 380 in a hurry to transfer to another flight-more I think of it-will stay home or drive.And what is it going to take for major US airports to accomidate them-and what US airlines are going to order the 380?
 
Airports

I've always loved airports, especially pictures or films about "vintage" or the way the airports used to look back in the 60-70s. Love the movies Airport and Airport 77. Same with "vintage" jet places (60s-70s).

Armstrong Int'l, used to be New Orleans Int'l, which used to be Moissant Airport still has a piece of the "old section". Concourse C is the oldest part with the huge domed structure (that used to be an observation tower).

If it weren't for the Hindenburg, we wouldn't have Led Zepplin, one of the greatest rock and roll bands... EVER.
 
And back then, you woudn't get pushed around by security personnel.

"Open up yo bags, spread yo legs, honky. You lookin like a terr'ist." You might likely hear that in New Orleans (except for the "honky" part)
 
After having worked for Lufthansa German Airlines for 26 years, towards the end, we all felt like it was working for a bus company. I worked in the offices at US headquarters on Long Island but the quality of the passengers and public dipped quite a bit over the years.

Ross
 
Airplane Voyeur

Thats me. I'd much rather watch than be a passenger any day.
Growing up in O'hare's backyard was fun and annoying because of the racket. My parent's house is in the takeoff pattern, and some days its a plane every two minutes. Many a summer evening was spent watching the planes fly over wondering where everyone was going. It used to be I could just hear a plane fly by and could tell what it was 747, DC10, L1011, and the noisest planes ever: 727.
9/11 did not ruin flying for me, American Airlines flight 191, PanAm 103, TWA 800, and United 93 did that. I can fly today, but it stresses the crap out of me.
I remember hearing someone sum up why they would not get on a plane and it pretty well suits my feelings too: Nobody has ever fallen 20,000 feet out of a Buick!
 
United 777

My Dad was among the first to fly the 777 as a captain for UAL, it was the last plane he flew before his retirement in 2000. We got to go on his retirement "last flight" to Argentina & that was pretty cool. Even got to sit in business class which was great since it was such a long flight. Nice plane, that 777. As a kid I loved flying, we got to travel a lot. I've never been afraid on a plane. (well except for that one time on Aeroflot, but that's another story!) Flying is still a lot safer than getting on the highway. Dad used to make me fly between home & college even though it was only a 3 hour drive, so that should say something. Flying isn't what it used to be though, now it's more like riding a bus.
Virginia
 
Back during the dot.com days I flew on 747's a few times to Osaka and London. I always requested - and got - a seat up in the little second floor area, in business class (company policy, any flight over five hours or so got business class). United to Japan, which was OK, but Virgin Atlantic to London was delightful. I still have a pair of those cute salt and pepper shakers as a souvenier.
 
Misc Thoughts

The 747---

When I was in elementary school in Denver of all places, I was really into aircraft. I flew all the time with my parents to family gatherings in Illinois, Phoenix, California. I new the 747 was coming.

So one day I was in the playground looking up, (probably the same time as Hoover1060 was checking out his plane) and there flying over our school, super low and flying into Denver was a 747. It was all white. No "livery" colors. Was it being tested in higher elevations for landing in Denver? I think maybe so. I pointed it out to the kids and the class was abuzz about it when we went back in.

Hindenburg--

Did you know that the Hindenburg was only a matter of feet shorter than the Queen Mary? Imagine something of the Queen Mary's size IN THE AIR.

The forerunner of the Hindenburg, the Graf Zeppelin (LZ127), made many many journeys overseas and even South America. You could even get a deal with American Airlines to fly the Hindenburg then complete your journey with AA. The Graf Zeppelin had an outstanding safety record.

Here's an amazing tidbit: The Hindenburg (LZ129) had a twin, the Graf Zeppelin 2 (LZ130). It was disassembled after the Hindenburg blew up.

The US had their own inventory of huge airships, the Shenandoah (crashed on land), the Los Angeles, the Macon and the Akron (both crashed at sea). The Macon had the ability to release and recapture small prop recon planes stored INSIDE.

Other Super Huge Planes:

Don't forget the Russian Myria (Antonov AN-225)

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homepage.ntlworld.com

And don't forget this:

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spaceflight1.nasa.gov
 
I remember perhaps 15+ years ago an Antonov flew in to Calgary. My folks happened to be in town so dad and I went down to the airport to have a look. It's monstrous. The other interesting thing at the time was the crew were all Ukrainians, hadn't been paid in ages apparently and none had any money so the local Ukrainian community sort of took them in for the time they were here. They must have regular freight flights here now because every once in awhile I see coming in for a landing, it's hard to miss.
 
Nice One!!!

Thanks for all the comments, FAB reading all your thoughts about flying-being a passenger-the history etc...we`ve come a long way in the history of travel and appliances....

I think we can conclude that the first part of the tests where satisfactory, as in that in took off and landed safely, the main purpose was to see just what it takes to get this plane from touchdown to the terminal and have all the crews and companies refuel, load unload cargo, safety checks etc....according to the bulletins the A380 is destined to be a workhorse on the asia pacific routes with up to 550 passengers...

The last time we flew to NY was in 1999 (Partners 40th, wanted to be 39 for 5 hrs longer...lol) we flew BA 747-400, got upgraded to business, upstairs...best time ever, I asked if a trip to the flight deck could be had...the steward said yes,....just as we where going into the cockpit, he quickly turned around and said "Now remember....What ever you do....DONT...go touching ANY knobs in here...and winked"..well all I could say was "Cover Blown"...LOL

How do those planes ever take off with all those dials n stuff etc..

On the way back (after FAB NY hospitality) we flew out, again on said jumbo, this time cattle class right at the back...it was nightime, full moon and cloudless sky, about an hour into the flight the captain announced "Ladies & Gentleman, for those of you sitting on the RHS of the plane we have a rather special event taking place for you, As I dim the lights please look out of your windows"....as I ALWAYS bag the window seat no probs...THEN Concorde came serenly to the side of us..OMG what a moment, perfect night, stayed a while and then gently accelerated leaving four perfect oblong vapour trails for us to follow....

Never got the chance to fly Concorde, BUT one has been placed at Manchester Airport, with official tours etc So, guess which Uncle has booked his neice & nephew for a visit!!!

Enjoy the flight, I will , Mike
 

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