plane spotters...

[AJI]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.4661...


What is the huge plane on the left going along the taxi way, assuming the middle one is a 747?

Is it one of the new Airbus A380s?

[RevYob]

Looks like an A380 from the shape of the cockpit windows.

[Douglas Arfempty]

Yup, A380 of Singapore Airlines.

[AJI]

Blimey, just looking at the size difference between this and a 747 shows how big it actually is.

Is it able to take off and land on most runways of the world's airports or just selected ones?

[RevYob]

AJI said:

Blimey, just looking at the size difference between this and a 747 shows how big it actually is.

Is it able to take off and land on most runways of the world's airports or just selected ones?

I think it's suitable for all of the major ones. Obviously smaller airports can't even accomodate 747s so they won't have much chance of handling an A380!

Not like it matters, given an A380 would never be used in a small airport annyway.

Will be interesting to see how big a Boeing Y3 turns out to be when they finally finish it.

[mgreenwood]

There is actually a second A380 on the ground at Heathrow in the link if you can spot it - clue it's a Qantas one.

[MitchT]

RevYob said:

I think it's suitable for all of the major ones. Obviously smaller airports can't even accomodate 747s so they won't have much chance of handling an A380!

Not like it matters, given an A380 would never be used in a small airport annyway.

LBA is pretty small though 747s have visited over the years, more as a novelty than on scheduled services though. I think the biggest challenge for a smaller airport in accommodating an A380 would be in establishing the infrastructure needed to get people on and off the plane. Airports that host the A380 have had to invest huge amounts in their infrastructure to be able to do so.

[anonymous-user]

mgreenwood said:

There is actually a second A380 on the ground at Heathrow in the link if you can spot it - clue it's a Qantas one.

There's an EK one too.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.4807...

[mgreenwood]

el stovey said:

There's an EK one too.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.4807...

OK touche I'd forgotten about the plastic one!

[motomk]

mgreenwood said:

There is actually a second A380 on the ground at Heathrow in the link if you can spot it - clue it's a Qantas one.

And another one about 3 taxiways back from the Singapore one, although it is probably the same one as the original just moved a bit.

[mgreenwood]

motomk said:

And another one about 3 taxiways back from the Singapore one, although it is probably the same one as the original just moved a bit.

Sorry dont see it the large 4 engined aircraft taxying behind the Whale is a BA 747. I could of course be looking in the wrong place

[mgreenwood]

motomk said:

And another one about 3 taxiways back from the Singapore one, although it is probably the same one as the original just moved a bit.

Got it one on stand between the taxying BA lump and the Singapore A380

[peter tdci]

AJI said:

Blimey, just looking at the size difference between this and a 747 shows how big it actually is.

Is it able to take off and land on most runways of the world's airports or just selected ones?

The main thing about the runways/taxiways is how wide the undercarriage is compared to the width of the tarmac. However, the A380 only has reverse thrust on the two inboard engines partly because the outboard ones could be too close to the grass verges (or actually over them) and blow up stuff that then gets ingested into the engines.

[eharding]

peter tdci said:

AJI said:

Blimey, just looking at the size difference between this and a 747 shows how big it actually is.

Is it able to take off and land on most runways of the world's airports or just selected ones?

The main thing about the runways/taxiways is how wide the undercarriage is compared to the width of the tarmac. However, the A380 only has reverse thrust on the two inboard engines partly because the outboard ones could be too close to the grass verges (or actually over them) and blow up stuff that then gets ingested into the engines.

Even Heathrow has areas that aren't suitable for the A380 - take a look at the A380 Ground Movement chart here:

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Fo...

(can't link directly as the Eurocontrol's CMS trashes the links at regular intervals)