Random 11 Nov 2005 02:33 pm
New airplanes
Two new models of passenger jets are doing very spectacular flights this week. The new 777-200LR landed this morning in London, coming from Hong Kong, to set the new distance record for a non-stop flight for its class: 21,601 kilometres in 22 hours and 42 minutes. The previous record for this weight class was for a 747-400 flying from London to Sydney in 1989 (17,038 km), and a 777-200ER has the record in a different class for a flight from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur (19,044 km) in 1997. A very interesting description of what it takes for a distance record to be accepted is in Boeing’s Flight Test blog, as written by a member of the crew.
At the same time, Airbus is showcasing its own giant passenger jet, the A-380. It landed in Singapore today, coming from Toulouse, and will tour Australia as part of the celebrations of Qantas’ 85th anniversary; Qantas will be one of the first airlines to receive the new jet, starting in 2007. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane had their airports upgraded to allow the plane to land; Melbourne opened its first two-level boarding bridge yesterday (Singapore Airlines, which will receive the first units, will fly to Australia with it).
The A-380 will be in Melbourne next Monday, but I don’t think it will not be open to the public; I couldn’t find any info about that in Qantas’ website in fact, Qantas is asking anyone who is not travelling on that day to avoid the vicinity of the airport, to prevent traffic congestion. In Sydney, it will fly over the harbour on Sunday, but I don’t think it will do an exhibition pass over Melbourne.
