New Fat bird in the skies

TBT_Piper · Post by **TBT_Piper** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:25 pm

Why would God allow such an ugly plane to fly?

I am talking about Airbus' a380 superuglya..... I mean superjumbo

Anways, enough of my French bashing for their ugly planes, it has come to an end of an era.

lieutfunaki · Post by **lieutfunaki** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:11 pm

well...apparently God has so far granted them grace. Certainly does have a titanic feel to it though doesn't it? How big can we make them before it's too many people to die in one crash?

TBT_Piper · Post by **TBT_Piper** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:45 pm

It does ahve a Titanic feel to it. On the other hand, the media seems to liek beign wrong about everything. I have heard them call it the biggest plane in the skies. Waht about the antonov AN225. That thing dwarfs the a380.

lieutfunaki · Post by **lieutfunaki** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:56 am

Yep, the trusty antonov.... some aviation major ( I need to say that again AVIATION MAJOR) told me the other day that the b-52 is the largest aircraft that has ever flown... naturally I pointed to the antonov.

We have a Antonov 124 that flies into San Jose fairly often. That thing is pretty good size too...I suspect the C-5 is larger, but still it isn't every day that you see the Russian equivalent.

FlankerPilot · Post by **FlankerPilot** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:21 am

Hey guys, I'm new around the block...

Been watching for a while, and decided to sign up for Airbus bashing. I hate everyone of em! They (not to sound american, no offense) Like boeing alot more. The 742 and 744 were different, not just a tube with wings. They have a distinctive feature.

The new A380 really reminds me of a Beluga freightor. Anyway, enough from me.

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 10:15 am

You guys know I fly A330's for a living?

heh heh

Cobra

TBT_Piper · Post by **TBT_Piper** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:59 pm

Sorry to hear that Cobra. Maybe you can go for somethign that has a similar size. Maybe a 767 or move on up to the 777.

lieutfunaki · Post by **lieutfunaki** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:10 pm

I refuse to comment on the 777 or 767. As far as I am concerned the 737 was a gorgeous piece of art. Adding winglets to it makes it a god of the air. On the other hand the 777 looks fat, the 767 has the aesthetic appeal of an oil tanker...and the 747 is a flying bomb (as proven by flight 800).

The Airbus 330 and 340 on the other hand, have subtle curves in the wings, blended winglets, and a sleek design that causes it to resemble a 727 with engine transplants. GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 319, 20, and 21 series is another matter...as is the 380.

TBT_Piper · Post by **TBT_Piper** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:35 pm

the a330 is the best looking airbus to me. The a340 looks like a pencil (especially the -500) The 777-200 does look fat while the -300 looks more proportioned. The 767 is ugly but is similiar in size and range to the a330 and that is why i said move to them. I never called either of those planes pretty or ugly. sorry to say.

Post by **Lawndart** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 4:27 pm

You guys don't get it... it's not about the prettier plane, but the better pay!

I'd take an Airbus any day over any non-NG Boeing (NG's are nice). I like the legroom, tray table and above all the sidestick on the bus!!! If I could choose, not regarding any job circumstantial things (pay, only equip type operated, seniority, bases etc) I'd pick the bus!

Cobra used to fly the Boeings, but like he said he's now a bus driver, so you could ask him which plane he prefers...

LawnDart
Jungle Jet Driver

TBT_Piper · Post by **TBT_Piper** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 5:18 pm

What did you fly previously before you crossed to the dark side Cobra?

.

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:32 pm

Experience so far..

RAAF-Caribou. Known in the US Army as the C7 back in Vietnam days. We call it the green gravel truck, if you ever saw or heard one, you'd know why. But a great machine that was an education in itself.. you gotta love radials!

Went to Qantas and was a Second Officer on the old 747. Nice aeroplane but carried a resident dirty old man in the flight engineer.

Became a First Officer on the 767... ahh the 767... my true love. A pilots aeroplane. Challenging to land consistently well but a nice power to weight ratio and we had the ER version so it was very flexible.

Then went on to the 747-400 as a First Officer. That aeroplane is a real sweetheart. Easy to fly and land but the fuel tanks are far too big!

Got my initial command back on the 767 (did you miss me my love?).

Did my A330 endorsement last year. The A330 takes some getting used to and in my heart of hearts I really can't wait till Qantas order 777's but I am slowly comng to terms with the Airbus way of doing things. There is a small chance I may be assigned on to the A380 next year when we get them but only a small chance. If it happens I am sure it will be a nice machine to fly but the fuel tanks are even bigger than the -400 so I won't enjoy 18 hour flights.

Cobra

TBT_Piper · Post by **TBT_Piper** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:29 pm

Seeing as the a380 has a very long range and big fuel tanks there must be alot of reserve pilots to take over(I forget the technical name at the moment). For those of you who don't know, there is not one pilot who flies the 18 hour flights but many.

lieutfunaki · Post by **lieutfunaki** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 2:10 am

TBT_Piper wrote:Seeing as the a380 has a very long range and big fuel tanks there must be alot of reserve pilots to take over(I forget the technical name at the moment). For those of you who don't know, there is not one pilot who flies the 18 hour flights but many.

I believe the term is designated driver...or at least that's what the America West Captain told me....

BonJobie · Post by **BonJobie** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 2:48 pm

Most airlines refer to those pilots as "Cruise pilots" or "relief pilots" who are part of an augmented crew. I like designated driver better