Addicted to music Posted February 14, 2019 Posted February 14, 2019 https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/airbus-announces-an-end-to-production-of-the-a380-superjumbo/news-story/ac19c3269908665dc79c4527913a3f4a Qantas cancelled its order and now so has United Emirate, Sad to see really, i flew in a A380 with Singapore Airlines. Amazing aircraft even in the back row in cattle class, it’s one of those aircrafts that you will remember flying, so comfortable as it takes off and land, was hoping more carriers will take it on but it’s not to be. Seem like that due to production delays, airlines prefer more efficient and smaller aircraft where they can fly at any route for a dime. 1
James May Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 Yeah, but cattle class has always felt horribly cramped in my opinion. After a a couple of flights in an A350 of late (all economy and long haul), I wouldn't wish an A380 trip on anyone.
metal beat Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 I quite liked the A380. Always plenty of free seats to go sit in, especially on the way back to Sydney. Unlike the sardine cans of the smaller planes.
Hergest Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 9 minutes ago, JamesMay said: Yeah, but cattle class has always felt horribly cramped in my opinion. After a a couple of flights in an A350 of late (all economy and long haul), I wouldn't wish an A380 trip on anyone. I disagree strongly. Perhaps other airlines have configured the A380 differently but I've flown Singapore Airlines and the A380 to London and back in economy 14 times since the planes were introduced and the amount of room, comfort and silence in the plane is head and shoulders above anything else long haul and I'm a stocky 180 cm, 82 kg bloke. I specifically choose Singapore Air and the SQ222/ 322 route to Heathrow every time I fly. I'm off in May and wouldn't consider any other flight. If the A350 is better then it must be truly superb. 3
James May Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) Hmm, I've only been on Emerites ones and they were horrible, I truely hated them. Maybe they are different between carriers! Don't get me wrong, smooth as, I love that, but always felt so confined on them. Mine were always packed between Dubai and London, so maybe this contributed? My my father in law has argued this with me a few times too, so maybe I'm wrong? in saying that, the two A350's in the last few months were truely awesome. Had our 2.5 year old laying between the wife and I, it was great. That was on Cathay Pacific but, was very impressed. Even their 777 's felt noticeably roomier than Emerites or Etihad. Edited February 15, 2019 by JamesMay
koputai Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 Just got back from Europe, flying Qantas A380 to London via Singapore on the way over, and Emirates A380 London to Sydney via Dubai on the way home. The Qantas plane on the way over was dreadful. It looked like they stopped doing cabin maintenance a couple of years ago. Everything shook, rattled or creaked, and was scratched, discoloured, or worn out. The two Emirates planes on the way home were both very well kept. I've also flown Emirates A380 business class from Dubai to Sydney, and that was very nice as well. The A380 is usually a nice comfortable and quiet ride, the only thing that is quieter (or just as quiet) is the Dreamliner. I haven't flown in the A350 yet. Cheers, Jason.
Guest Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 Did a A380 Qantas economy return flight to LA with the family a few years ago. Impressively quiet and stable compared with other smaller aircraft that I regularly did then to domestic and Asian cities And felt roomy as well. I am still impressed whenever I see one land or takeoff. It will be the sad end of the era of the giant passenger aircraft.
Addicted to music Posted February 15, 2019 Author Posted February 15, 2019 Here some more food for though over the matter. The A380 was just too expensive to run, most airlines prefer mid to small medium aircraft. Airbus had a dream to beat Boeing to build the biggest aircraft to take over where the 747 dominated. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2019/02/14/how-boeing-lured-airbus-into-now-busted-a380/#5c0809936c2a
metal beat Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 Bring back the Concord Sydney to London in under 12 hours https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/716764/Boom-Supersonic-Concorde-British-Airways-flight-plane-UK-Australia-Farnborough-Airshow 1
Hergest Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 5 hours ago, JamesMay said: Maybe they are different between carriers! Don't get me wrong, smooth as, I love that, but always felt so confined on them. Mine were always packed between Dubai and London, so maybe this contributed? That's very possible as there are so many seating arrangements. I've been in 777s to Canada where I was scrunched up tightly packed in for 15 vile hours and have flown the same plane to London via Malaysia where i've had as much room, both leg and width as if I'd paid for premium economy. Never flown a Dreamliner or A350 yet, I have high hopes that they are nice and silent inside as that used to be the worst thing about long haul, that incessant roar all the bloody way. I love aircraft noise but not when I'm in the plane for a day.
alistairm Posted February 15, 2019 Posted February 15, 2019 The newer generation of planes are quieter and have a more comfortable cabin pressure. Nothing wrong with the A380 comfort wise - it was a game changer. But the game has moved on again. 1
vinilink Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 Flown 380, 350, 330, 320 neo, and 310 from Airbus and 747, 787, 777, 767, 737 from Boeing. My preference would be in following order for overall flying experiences. 380, 747, 350, 777, 320 neo, 330, 767, 787 and 737. Somehow, I didn't like 787 after flying few occasions and think it is an over hyped plane. Of course, it would vary depending on which part of plane you are sitting on. But, as you would expect front of the plane is quieter and less shaky than the back. 2
Guest rmpfyf Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 4 minutes ago, vinilink said: Flown 380, 350, 330, 320 neo, and 310 from Airbus and 747, 787, 777, 767, 737 from Boeing. My preference would be in following order for overall flying experiences. 380, 747, 350, 777, 320 neo, 330, 767, 787 and 737. Somehow, I didn't like 787 after flying few occasions and think it is an over hyped plane. Of course, it would vary depending on which part of plane you are sitting on. But, as you would expect front of the plane is quieter and less shaky than the back. Been on all the same and some comedy older Airbus and McDonald-Douglas planes to boot... full wet takeoff in an MD-80 getting choppy power through clouds with the engines all rear-mounted whilst sitting in the rear seats sure gets your attention... A lot of it really depends on how the airlines choose to configure their jets, no? I've done the AU-US routes with Qantas in their A380's and it took ooooo three seconds to realise Qantas' mission is passenger throughput not comfort. But that's a Qantas thing - not Airbus' fault - as a plane it's pretty good! Super quiet, good air quality, rides turbulence well. I'll back you up on the 787 - don't know why but some high-pitched bit of engine noise seems to make it through to the cabin on every flight I've been on. Found it impossible to sleep in one. A380's days were numbered IMHO when Boeing opened their books and took three times the orders Airbus had for the superjumbo. A real shame... it's such an incredible achievement. Do you remember the first time you saw one at an airport and just thought 'f***! That thing's huge!'
vinilink Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 Now, I remember flown on old 707 and Lockheed L-1011 Tristar when I was a kid. A vague memory, but Tristar was a very good plane then compare to 707 which was older.
Guest rmpfyf Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 6 minutes ago, vinilink said: Now, I remember flown on old 707 and Lockheed L-1011 Tristar when I was a kid. A vague memory, but Tristar was a very good plane then compare to 707 which was older. Rare bird that! 250 or so made, S-intake on the top engine. Amazing. Must've felt quite futuristic.
Batty Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 I found the 380 to be the most uncomfortable aircraft I have flown in, I jhave been flying since 1961!
Guest Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 I’ve only flown 6 times, all on whatever planes Qantas use to fly locally here (eg, Canberra to Melbourne)
Candyflip Posted February 17, 2019 Posted February 17, 2019 Loved the Emirates 380, between Melb -> Auckland. I took one of the last flights they did on that route back in March 2018 - I was really sad to see it go. But the plane was rarely ever more than half full down in Economy where I spend almost all my time. Looking forward to flying in the replacement one day!
Addicted to music Posted February 18, 2019 Author Posted February 18, 2019 16 hours ago, rmpfyf said: . Do you remember the first time you saw one at an airport and just thought 'f***! That thing's huge!' Drove up around the back of Tullamarine Melb, you’re not wrong the Qantas 380 literally dawf everything that’s there. It’s massive.....
Addicted to music Posted February 18, 2019 Author Posted February 18, 2019 11 hours ago, Batty said: I found the 380 to be the most uncomfortable aircraft I have flown in, I jhave been flying since 1961! Hanging onto the landing gear would be....fairly uncomfortable me think......
Guest rmpfyf Posted February 18, 2019 Posted February 18, 2019 3 hours ago, Addicted to music said: Drove up around the back of Tullamarine Melb, you’re not wrong the Qantas 380 literally dawf everything that’s there. It’s massive..... True. Kinda beautiful though (IMHO not 747 beautiful, but it's got it's own thing going). I trained in automotive engineering and would always get an attitude adjustment at an airport, air show or a ship tour. I'd be thinking cars were 'it' then you'd see something like an A380 or some mega ship. Some engineering projects really are massive and fantastic. First time I saw an A380 up close was a bit like getting on a military ship for the first time (USS Hornet for me)... you walk and walk and does it ever end? And there's no part of it that's simple, no part of it that was copied or easy to do, it was all hard work. You hear of people coming in and out of these projects and they go on for ever and ever until finally some prototype, some work of tens of thousands of people and supply chains spanning most of the world quite literally take to the skies, then land like a bird with grace that belies it's over 350 tons of mass. Humans made it. Sometimes we're incredible.
Guest rmpfyf Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 Another bittersweet day http://australianaviation.com.au/2019/02/qantas-boeing-747-400-vh-ojs-retired/
vinilink Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 One of thing that 747 really stood out from rest of crowds is during take off. I just loved the feeling how it really push me backwards as if I am in a powerful sports car with a grunt noise from 4 engines.
Steam Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 On 15/02/2019 at 4:28 PM, koputai said: Just got back from Europe, flying Qantas A380 to London via Singapore on the way over, and Emirates A380 London to Sydney via Dubai on the way home. The Qantas plane on the way over was dreadful. It looked like they stopped doing cabin maintenance a couple of years ago. Everything shook, rattled or creaked, and was scratched, discoloured, or worn out. The two Emirates planes on the way home were both very well kept. I've also flown Emirates A380 business class from Dubai to Sydney, and that was very nice as well. Cheers, Jason. Interesting. I had exactly the opposite experience recently. I was in cattle class on emirates and the bathroom door lock was broken (made some interesting moments and awkward conversation), the fold down tray beside me was broken, the headphone port was broken. I’m wondering if it’s a sign of where they are in the maintenance schedule. Problems build up while in service then get fixed while offline. Whatever the case I thought it was a real backwards step for emirates. I was thinking maybe they are cutting costs to compete with the Chinese airlines.
zipstartcanoe Posted February 19, 2019 Posted February 19, 2019 I fly >450k km a year - have to say I try and avoid A380's on any carrier if possible. Not a fan!
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