Airbus A380 Panorama Cockpit View

by Kent Wien on

Pilots enjoy checking out new and unfamiliar cockpits. Maybe it’s because we’re still flying airplanes that were developed twenty or thirty years ago. In fact, it seems like we have to wait ten years at a time to see any new technology show up in the form of a new design.

So most of us have salivated over the 787 cockpit picture that hasn’t changed in a few years, and waited patiently for detailed images of the A380’s front office — but why not give us more to gawk at, Boeing and Airbus?

Well, someone listened. This panorama shot of the A380 cockpit really puts you in the ‘drivers’ seat.

Now if we could just get the same look at the 787. What do you say, Boeing? Throw us a bone while we wait on your beautiful Dreamliner!

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Join Kent at Cockpit Chronicles which takes you along on each of his trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston.

The A380 makes its maiden voyage

by Grant Martin on

Earlier this Thursday, after numerous delays and management changes at EADS, the A380 finally made her maiden commercial voyage under the emblem of Singapore Airlines.

MSNBC reports that it was a landmark experience, with the short flight between Singapore and Sydney holding 455 passengers and about 30 crew members. Most of the seats were auctioned off on Ebay with the proceeds going to charity while some of the most expensive suites were going for over 100k.

Its going to be a while until the average westerner gets the pleasure of riding an A380; Singapore Airlines has unlimited rights to fly the bird for the next 10 months. After that, Emirates is the next customer. I suppose we’ll see a few on the SE Asia – USA routes that Singapore has license to, but the budget get-me-to-asia-as-cheap-as-possible traveler like myself will have to be patient.

As to the performance future of the A380, analysts still vacillate. Most still predict that the market calls for medium-long range super-efficient jets that will cut costs all around, something that the 787 is still crushing the competition at. I personally look forward to flying both jets, but have a feeling that in the end I’ll be spending more time on the 787.

A Look Inside the New Airbus A380

by Justin Glow on

Korean Air is the proud new owner of the quad-engine, double-decked monstrosity that is the Airbus A380. This thing is so big, and so luxurious — even the bathroom has a window! That’s how you know when you’re flying in the most technologically advanced airplane on the planet. A demonstration flight was conducted in Seoul, Korea, and Aving.net was there to capture the lavish innards. Check out the gallery below — I wonder how much it’ll cost to fly in this thing?

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More Money Than Sense Or A Very Generous Man?

by Brett Atkinson on

Aussie businessman Julian Hayward has just forked out US$100,380 for two first class seats on the inaugural flight of the new Airbus A380 from Sydney to Singapore on October 26. Singapore Airlines is the first airlne to run scheduled services on the 471-seat super jumbo, and for the first flight sold tickets in an online auction. Proceeds of the auction will be donated to charity, and so far more than $400,000 has been raised.

We first reported the online auction here.

Sydney to Singapore is around 8 hours flying time, so My Hayward and his lucky flying partner will be paying more than US$6000 per hour. At a hundred bucks a minute we hope they get their fill of honey roasted peanuts and other assorted first class goodies.

Oh, did we mention the hundred grand was only for one way flights?

Click here if you’re interested in picking up a cattle class fare in the online auction.

Tickets for First Commercial Airbus A380 Flight to be sold on eBay

by Neil Woodburn on

Want to be on board the first commercial flight of the Airbus A380?

Then head on over to eBay.

Singapore Airlines expects the world’s first commercial A380 flight to take place sometime in October between Singapore and Sydney.

To kick off the inaugural flight, and to allow passengers to “be a part of history,” the airline will be selling tickets on eBay. This might sound like a greedy attempt to ratchet up the cost, but the reality is that all proceeds will go to charity so hats off to Singapore Airlines for a classy move (and some savvy marketing).

No date has been set yet for the auction, but airline spokespersons estimate it will be a few weeks before the flight–perhaps late September or early October.

The Singapore Airbus can seat more than 550 passengers. I suspect all seats will be sold quickly and expensively when the auction finally kicks off. So, you’d better make sure you have enough money in your PayPal account!