I was queueing up at the coffee stand at work this afternoon, when one of those aeroplane things went past the window. The window in question is four storeys high, and overlooks the approach to the main runway at Filton. So, when a huge white aeroplane slips noiselessly by, there's a fair chance of spotting it. By christ it's a big bugger. I had a closer look on the way home, riding slowly past the airfield. With all those rows of windows, it looks like a cigar-shaped cruise liner. -- platypus "Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative."
Saw a few parked at Toulouse Airport in February. From a distance, it looks 'normal'. It's only when you get close you realise how bloody massive it is. And the assembly building there is *vast*.
On 29 Mar 2007 03:57:49 -0700, TOG@toil, I've seen it twice in the last two weeks - once at very high and once at very low altitude. I'd never seen it 'in the flesh' before, and didn't really have any preconception about comparitive size. To me, it looked huge even at high alt cruise - noticeably bigger than a 747. One of the fleet did a touch and go at Broughton on Monday - at least, I assume it touched down, I wasn't close enough to see the runway. So that's two UK visits in a week... sounds like activity is ramping up. HVB
So, when a huge white aeroplane slips noiselessly Fairly quiet in the air, though. Saw it flying over Keynsham to/from Filton and it was no noiser than the little holiday charter gnats that buzz over every five minutes en route to Lulsgate. Cheers Blippie
It was over for a flying visit to Filton a few months ago, cutting to and fro over Bristol. Significantly vast it was. Hopefully. I'm getting the impression that the Boeing posture of "smaller planes are the future" is starting to sound a bit hollow, even to them. -- platypus "Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative."
I suspect that there's room for both, but I think Airbus deserves to succeed with the behemoth. More and more people want to fly and the popular routes will benefit from the increased capacity of the A380. Meanwhile, more destinations could become profitable, and therefore available, with longer range, smaller aircraft. Personally, I find airports frustrating and flying incredibly tedious, so I avoid flying if I can - unless by private jet. If I have to fly, I prefer to fly from the airport nearest where I'm starting from to the airport nearest my destination. I don't want to stop at a transit point, unless it just can't be avoided. The 787 and A350 might make more destinations available as direct flights. HVB
