The Airbus A380: The Incredible Plane that No One Wants

[@megaprojects9649]

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[@wstlndiesel]

Total Ad Bait!!!

[@JTL1776]

I want. Just can't afford it. When I can, I will likely go for an Airship instead.

[@johns70]

I have always wondered why not someone takes an Airbus 380 and build a functioning hospital inside? It is large enough to host operations rooms and sick beds for a fairly large number of people. And it could be flown to wherever it is needed, when there is a natural disaster. Imagine the UN having 5-10 of these to send out to the earthquake in Turkey, famines in Yemen, floods in Bangladesh and on and on.

[@DarrellLye]

All Emirates A380 have a full business class 2nd deck and at the back, there is a bar with seats. I had the pleasure of flying that from Singapore to Sau Paulo and back...via Dubai. And Dubai's Emirates Businees Class lounge there is probably the largest I have ever been to.

[@HiddenWindshield]

@@johns70 Because it's so big, it likely couldn't land anywhere near a natural disaster. Plane-based hospitals typically use smaller but more flexible aircraft, such as old MD-10s or 737s.

[@erinmarie959]

The absolute most financially irresponsible thing I've ever done was buy a business class ticket on a Qantas A380 from LAX to Sydney in fall of 2019. Man, what an experience. It's mind-boggling that that thing can even get off the ground, and once you're up there it's sooo quiet you forget you're even on a plane. Best flight of my life. Once Covid hit and they started parking all the jumbo jets for what looked like it was gonna be forever, I was like yep, zero regrets. I'll be grateful we were able to do that for the rest of my life.

[@Zyo117]

The last A380 was already delivered in 2021. The last passenger 747 delivered was years ago. The super-jumbo is slowly ageing out of service now.

[@Elthenar]

I've been to other countries but never so far as Australia. I had to look up the cost on a first class A380 ticket. Definitely not for the faint of heart or light in the wallet.

[@jimhim585]

How much was the ticket? That sounds like a vacation before the vacation.

[@barnettmcgowan8978]

Sounds pretty awesome!

[@the_dsider]

@@jimhim585 I flew Sydney to London x Dubai with Emirates on the A380 in Business Class (work trip, it didn't cost me). The invoice from the travel company was about AUD13,000 or about USD9,000. It varies quite a bit but it's definitely not a cheap way to fly. It is incredible though. If money wasn't an issue then you wouldn't want to fly any other way.

[@littleraeofsunshine]

Having worked for years on the A380 as cabin crew, can confirm it was just as much of a pleasure to work those flights as it was to be a passenger! The plane is truly a dream 😍

[@ZettyLad]

@@WhatWillYouFindMood killer. XD

[@NatureBoyyy94]

I saw the building process on the Discovery channel as a small kid, 2017 when i was about to fly to USA I realised it was an a380. I became the 8 year old boy again. By far the most comfortable airplane i have been on, especially for a economy seat.

[@matsv201]

@@WhatWillYouFind I still hope Airbus make a A360. Slightly smaller twin engine aircraft based on A350 with the new much more efficient ultrafan engines. There is still a need for a very large aircraft. Now when neither 747 and A380 is in production, and 777x is partly old, and partly still to small for a lot of routes, it kind of make sense. While it can be argued that A380 was to large, i would say the main flaw of it was that it was made just years before swiching to high bypass engine and carbon fiber construction. Long and short of it, A380 was dated alreddy when it first flew.

[@shalahel757]

Hey do you think you can give me one of the engineers contact info I would love to offer my ideal for new safety seats for Airbus

[@d.b.cooper1]

@@WhatWillYouFind A slow death, I think the gulf carriers will keep it around a little longer for up to 20 years, they have such high demand on their A380 routes & limited slots it just can't be replaced. They've also nailed the cabin/experience to a tee so I hope they stay around until they run out of parts. BA/Luthsana/Singapore will retire earlier

[@mohitbhatia809]

My dad worked for Emirates Airlines for 35 years and I got to fly in almost every iteration of the A380 the airline had to offer. From the bar at the business class to the shower in the first class. One of the best planes I have ever had the luxury of being in.

[@soulbrothers7789]

How much he have pension ?!

[@TheUncleSpiderX]

Shower in a plane?????

[@mohitbhatia809]

@@TheUncleSpiderX yup look up Emirates A380 first class shower in KZbin

[@lovelyhurlin6494]

​@@TheUncleSpiderXDid you not watch the actual video??

[@alanbrown397]

@@TheUncleSpiderX Yup and a bar at the rear of the top deck

[@CookiieJay]

This made me sad. RIP Chonk…you’ve gotten me safely across the pacific countless times, and quite comfortably at that.

[@Theultrazombiekiller]

Love the A380 for long haul flights. I fly it often to Munich from the states. Its modern, quiet, and reliable. The way they change the lighting in the plane to match your destination to minimize jet lag is amazing.

[@derekspringer6448]

They do what now? Are you sure? That blows my frickin miiiind yo....

[@jimmahr.4665]

Didn't he (Simon) say that these would need airport modifications in the states?

[@fuby6065]

@@jimmahr.4665 presumably some American airports can handle it, just not enough to warrant an American airline picking it up, as most airlines in America do a large amount of domestic flights, I assume in this case it was Lufthansa or similar flying into one of the airports that could handle it, then flying back

[@JimDean002]

​@@jimmahr.4665if you Google it there are a number of US airports including Atlanta Dallas and others that have made modifications and been approved for a 380 landings.

[@DoomFinger511]

@@jimmahr.4665 International airports in the USA can accommodate them, but most domestic airports can't. That's why there are no domestic flights with the A380.

[@MW-mn1el]

There is a difference of what airlines want and what passenger want. For long haul flights is the best airplane ever produced. Quiet, spacious and comfortable.

[@lyianx]

Yep. Both want things that contradict each other. Usually revolving around Cost, Space/Comfort & Convenience.

[@Jaker788]

Too big these days to fill up for long haul flights and be profitable. It's very expensive to operate in general, lots of ground support, few supporting airports, lots of maintenance parts on a small fleet number. The new top long haul plane is more like the 787, 777, 737 Max and airbus equivalents. You can fill them up easier, operation is cheaper with less ground support required and smaller airports supported. Some you can do direct flights instead of requiring hub and spoke to consolidate tons of people to get a super heavy aircraft filled up for 1 flight.

[@Pushing_Pixels]

@@Jaker788 Better for the airlines, not better for the passengers. All of those aircraft are noisier, more cramped and less comfortable than the A380. Using small aircraft for long-haul flights is poor, second-rate service. Unless they are charging substantially less, they are ripping-off customers.

[@Jaker788]

@@Pushing_Pixels A direct flight is going to be significantly faster transit time and a more comfortable experience. Also I wouldn't say a 777, or especially 787 are uncomfortable at all, they're built for long haul. I would say if someone has not flown in both then there can be no opinion drawn, at best you can get the information I provided by a little Google research.

[@ls93780]

Arguably that spot has actually been taken over by smaller wide bodies like the 777 and the A350, these also have a longer operational range than the A380. Heck, even the smaller airbus planes, and the 737 have been becoming more and more fuel efficient.

[@stevenlee3278]

Ex Qantas Crew here, I flew Sydney to Dallas on the 380 nearly a hundred times. It was the best aircraft to work on, especially for a flight that long. When the company changed it to the 787 after covid it was such a downgrade. For some reason Dallas will always feel like a second home to me!

[@Pushing_Pixels]

Switching to sardine cans for long-haul flights is very anti-customer of Qantas. Unless the flights have become cheaper, they are ripping off their passengers.

[@MrDlenrek]

That my flight. Been on a380 to Sydney twice and now 787 was a major downgrade. You could walk around and enjoy the flight on a380. No space on 787 to stand up and stretch legs. Sad to see it go. Thanks for probably being my crew on a few flights!

[@veeeevo]

Yup now it’s only the single 787 Qantas flight going into Dallas everyday. Sucks.

[@steviej359]

787 Dreamliner is a fine plane unless you're a whiner, just sayin'.

[@tomtom1541]

​@@steviej359you must be short, some of us are 6"7 so we need more height / leg room

[@jamesterry5409]

I've been working in the airline industry for eight years at one of the world's busiest airports. When I first started, we received two A380s a day, one by Emirates in the morning, and then later with Qantas in the afternoon. Now, only British Airways flying the hulking beast into our airport. Every time I see it take off, I'm still amazed that an aircraft that size still gets off the ground!

[@johniii8147]

Must be DFW.

[@veeeevo]

DFW huh? 1 A380 per day

[@johniii8147]

@@veeeevo Yep only BA flies into DFW currently. EK flies the 777-300ER now into the airport and QF the 787

[@veeeevo]

@@johniii8147 I just saw the Japan & Emirates 777 from my balcony this morning. Usually see the Qatar 350 and the BA A380 when I’m out running/walking at dusk. I think my favorite plane coming here is the Korean Airs. The turquoise blue is so pretty. I’ve only seen the 777, but I’ve seen on radar that 747 and 787 models come here too

[@hurri7720]

I can understand that "feeling" but I bet there are those who can work out the wing area to weight, or what ever, to proove there is no problem at all. It's funny, but if you see a small boat doing 40 knots, you know it's fast, but if you see an aircraft carrier doing 40 knots it doesn't look fast at all.

[@masterchinese28]

I flew one from LA to Paris many years ago. It's like riding a train in the sky. One thing that you don't usually think about: customs and security get really busy when 600 people arrive at the same time. Be ready for long lines.

[@benmac940]

You must have totally different trains to where I am, or you're experience is the opposite of every one else here

[@CastorRabbit]

@@benmac940 Maybe he means like the gangbang version of "train"

[@titob.yotokojr.9337]

​@@benmac940He is probably comparing the A380 to the silky smooth and quiet Shinkansen of Tokyo, Japan rather than those old trains of Mumbai, India.

[@benmac940]

@titob.yotokojr.9337 I've been on trains in a few countries and I wouldn't describe any as silky smooth

[@mshara1]

By trains, I would compare the A380 to the Eurostar across the Chunnel.

[@Jonno92100]

I feel like it is a tragedy to lose these aircraft from active service. To this day, the A380 is the only plane I have managed to get a good nights sleep on in Economy long haul.

[@redemissarium]

Emirates just refurbish theirs fleet, it will stay in the air for at least next 20 years

[@hededcdn]

How?

[@redemissarium]

@@hededcdn they refurb 67 A380 to operates well till 2040s kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHjZqZ2GeLmpZqM

[@cfb36]

I go to the Philippines from Florida reasonably often and normally fly in the 777. I dread the 20+ hour flights every time. Last leg home last time flew in the A350 and ACTUALLY slept well enough to sleep through one of the meal services! It was amazing! On the 777 I could never get more than like 45 minutes of sleep, actually got like 5-6 hours on the A350! Amazing plane!

[@nathangriffiths6218]

As a passenger, these are the best long haul planes I've ever flown on. Very sad to see them going out of service already.

[@JM-wu8bh]

Toulouse roads had to be widened for the A380 parts to be delivered for assembly. They would drive them in at like 3am-6am. I worked next to Blagnac Airport (TLS) but never flown on one. Was it like a cruise ship?

[@Taydrum]

Your comfort is not cost effective

[@jonathanjones3126]

Maybe if airbus had designed and built a cargo version of the 380 it would have been more widely adopted

[@TheHungryPigeon]

Terrible business class. At least on British airways. Tiny and the upstairs is hot as hell.

[@johnharris7353]

Does it have a swim pool and waterslide?

[@hairychest7865]

When I worked for GE Aviation we worked on many pieces of equipment that go into the A380. Very proud of my work to supply them.

[@Daginni1]

A good ally, a good industry. She a big, beautiful girl.

[@Larbr000]

Was that across from Clearwater arpt? Used to be Smiths aerospace?

[@anthonyxuereb792]

Airbus and GE have been together since Airbus came into being if I'm not mistaken and there are many American components in Airbus aircraft.

[@ryanjones3043]

And these boneheads today are saying things like “we don’t manufacture ANYTHING in the USA” We make the finest of damn near everything in that states.

[@lg_believe333]

@@ryanjones3043They say the same about the U.K. but the United Kingdom manufactures many high tech components for other manufacturers, including Jet engines and wings for the A380 and other technical components. The problem is the US and UK cannot compete with China and India when it comes to manufacturing it cheaper unless it’s automated.

[@juozasluksa9967]

I've been on a few flights with the A380, all with Emirates, and in each cabin class. It's an outstanding aircraft, and as a passenger, I hate to see it dying.

[@raylopez99]

The cowardly bean counters have won! Don't they always win in the end? :(

[@matthewhendy5785]

Me too! Such an amazing beautiful airplane.

[@thetowndrunk988]

@@raylopez99It works well for Emirates, because they’re one of the few airlines that still does the old school spoke and hub method of air travel (obviously with everything coming into Dubai). But most airlines have went to point to point travel, so the giant birds are, unfortunately, not great. I love both the A380 and the 747. Beautiful planes

[@Notme-tq4xs]

@@raylopez99 Bean counters? It's because you want a cheaper flight. Duh.

[@supernova743]

@@Notme-tq4xs the a380 is cheaper to fly if you can fill them. The problem is for convenience airlines have moved away from shuttling so many people on flights. In america while most airports can launch or land a 380 successfully there are a handful that never extended their landing strips to be able to fly the plane successfully. so airlines had to make sure no 380s ended up on routes that coudnt' take them. It's also a concern when you have to reroute planes. It's not really the cost to fly the plane or the even the logistics of flying the planes. It's the ability to fill planes on route. It's just easier to fill smaller planes than the 380. The 380 is big and hold a lot but it's not worth flying with 60-80% capacity. If you have less than that you can simply sub in a 747 instead and save on fuel costs.

[@bradi8548]

I recently passed by the China Southern A380 fleet gathering dust in the Mojave Desert. Gave me chills seeing them sitting there casting shadows over all the other abandoned and deteriorating aircraft.

[@Cajuux]

😟

[@jamesgraham6122]

Personally, I find it sad that the 380 will not continue, though now being retired my likelihood of ever flying on it again is markedly reduced. Prior to retirement, I must have flown on it a couple of dozen times and it quickly became my favourite aircraft when flying as a passenger.. (flying as a pilot I have a completely different set of criteria) ! Amazingly quiet, superbly comfortable even on occasions when I flew economy..Flying out of Dubai at night when the aircraft was barely half full and less power was set for take-off, I looked out to see where we were on the taxi-way only to discover we were climbing through around 6000ft.. I hadn't even been aware of the take-off..

[@adde9506]

And what is the pilot's favorite plane? And how many is he qualified on?

[@orome9793]

I spent years traveling for my job, and as a passenger and frequent traveler the A380 was by far my favorite airplane to fly in. It's so quiet compared to the Boeing 777 and 787. By far the quietest commercial airplane out there.

[@davidajayi1207]

Nah, 787 is the quietest

[@SecretMoose]

About equal to a 787 if you're on the lower deck in my experience, however if you're on the upper deck it's so quiet it's amazing. I also love how over engineered the wings are, it can take off so slowly you barely feel a thing. Flying out of YVR once I saw ground speed was only 90ish mph and we were in the air - I was in awe.

[@Arltratlo]

from 26 hours in 2 A380 from NZ to Frankfurt, i slept the most time really good, unlike in the 767, 777s or MD11 i flew before!

[@gertjanvandermeij4265]

You clearly never been inside an Boeing MAX ! Airbus is just CRAP !

[@SaahajMattey]

@@davidajayi1207 It was till I flew on an A350-1000, that shit was whisper quiet

[@jonathancohen2506]

I just flew it from Miami to London, so not even a real long flight. I didn’t want it to end! So smooth and quiet. Landing was unbelievable. It is truly a marvel!

[@jasonw7497]

How many air waitresses have you mile-high-clubbed?

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:55 - Chapter 1 - Demand & conception 1:55 - Mid roll ads 3:20 - Back to the video 5:25 - Chapter 2 - Development 12:10 - Chapter 3 - Specs & capabilities 15:25 - Chapter 4 - Career in the sky

[@HCG]

You’re doing God’s work

[@thearabiansahara]

Thank you

[@gregsullivan7408]

17:20 why doesn't anyone want it?

[@wherethebasshertz1870]

Having flown the A380 approximately 120 times to Dubai and beyond on Emirates and also Korean, it is truly an engineering masterpiece....hope it remains with us for a long time ... sad to see the 747 all being retired .... if you ever get to fly on an A380 please don't hesitate and fly it

[@skatman3278]

The irony of this video coming out negatively talking about the commercial viability of the A380 while most major airlines that own some are bringing them back in rapid fashion saying that "buying and owning some is probably the most important decision we made and it's more important now than it was when we made it" (Lufthansa).

[@concept5631]

How does this hold up 7 months later?

[@skatman3278]

@@concept5631 still exactly the same. The people that said they were bringing them back have brought them back.

[@concept5631]

@@skatman3278 Based as fuck

[@nntflow7058]

But that's not because they love A380. It's caused by delays in delivery of the new widebody they ordered. B777-9, B787 and A350. So instead of leasing new plane and paying extra money, they just reactivate A380 which they already got.

[@SuperCatacata]

@@nntflow7058 Yup. Was about to say this. Only people thinking this plane isn't absolutely dying in commercial viability are in denial. Lufthansa would be ditching it like everyone else if they could. But they can't. It's a good plane, but nearly every major airline not waiting for their orders from Boeing or Airbus is dropping it.

[@pavarottiaardvark3431]

I've been on a transatlantic flight on one. It really DOES feel different. You lose the feeling of being on a moving machine: it's not just quiet, but it lacks all the little shifts and twitches that you can feel on other jets

[@stawmy]

Not only that, they were also designed to be super efficient on fuel, that lowered the running costs😀I felt SAFE flying in an A380

[@worldcomicsreview354]

I only went on one once, but in poor people class from Japan to Germany. I suppose being downstairs next to the wing isn't as impressive as being upstairs, it didn't seem particularly quiet. It was certainly "rock solid", turbulence felt like mild waves rocking a boat at anchor.

[@wtfdinges]

As someone who is on international flights more than regularly (I'm a Platinum member of Emirates and KLM) I can confidently say that the A380 is still the most comfortable plane to fly in. It's spacious, quiet, and offers cool features like live feeds on the infotainment of the cameras that are all around the aircraft. The Boeing 787 does a great job at being quiet, but it feels more cramp and I absolutely hate the stupid dimmable windows (especially when the crew locks it to the dark setting). I hope Airbus comes with a solid roomy replacement before all airlines get rid of their A380s.

[@steviej359]

I like the dimmable windows, makes for great photo taking opportunities and is just a cool feature.

[@jonjensen8985]

They already have the airbus a 350. In my opinion its even more comfortable than the a 380

[@HazzyWazzey]

Paid shill

[@zanaduz2018]

The problem with making a replacement for the A380 is that there isn’t a market for such large passenger jets. Long haul routes are the exception compared to the much more common and profitable mid-range routes, for which the 737 MAX and A320neo are well positioned, and Airbus has already developed the next generation of aircraft for this purpose in the A350.

[@guytech7310]

I am pretty sure there would be an major new passenger aircraft designs. Global Oil Production peaked in 2018 and is now in decline. Fuel prices will rise resulting in much higher travel costs, which will eventually doom the airlines.

[@twitertaker]

I write logistics software for a company working on Airbus planes (retrofitting, repairing, safety checks). Once I got a tour through these hangars and it was so cool seeing these machines in person. I also saw the stations where they do the cable management of the plane, it was just insanely complex because every Airbus customer got its own configuration as the video also says.

[@deltakilo75bon61]

The 747 will always have a very special place in my heart but in my opinion the A380 is amazing.

[@j01150126]

747 back before McDonnel Douglas bought Boeing? Because after they did Boeing basically became a criminal airline. Look up all their fines and crashes due to crappy workmanship, design and cutting costs at the demise of safety. Look at the safety records of both comapnies and it will tell what the better plane is.

[@mgntstr]

a special place in your world trade center indeed

[@frankmoreau8847]

@@mgntstr Those were 767s idiot.

[@The_Ballo]

747 damned near killed me with CO2

[@avuhhh]

@@mgntstrboth flights were 767, not 747

[@NatoBro]

I've had two flights on an A380. Incredible aircraft. Both flights were with Emirates. Their interior package of the aircraft is outstanding. Best long haul flights I ever had.

[@VONYX8]

I’ve been on dozens of Emirates A380 flights and they truly are some of the best

[@nizm0man]

"An-225 Mriya, R.I.P. to the G.O.A.T." :( Flying in the A380 was an awesome experience, like being in a building. Super quiet, comfortable and spacious. I'm glad I got to experience this engineering marvel.

[@ghaznavid]

A bit of a Concorde moment - much like supersonic passenger travel will likely never be a thing again, soon the A380 will likely also be a relic of the past. Really sad, I just hope to fly in one before they are all retired.

[@nizm0man]

@@ghaznavid yeah the "hub and spoke" travel thing was already sketchy to begin with, which is why Boeing pulled out and focused on the big twinjet 787. Point-to-point won out in the end. A380 is the biggest we're going to get IMO.

[@elliott7268]

It's not gone you realise right? Almost all airlines that were flying them originally are still operating them. :/ Emirates fly them on many routes still.

[@technewseveryweek8332]

@@elliott7268 Yes, but without new aircraft produced, the one in service will b eforced to retire due to age

[@elliott7268]

@@technewseveryweek8332 the original comment used the past tense. The A380 is not currently available to fly. Emirates will still be flying them for at least 10 years.

[@dasnutnock6408]

A friend at BA stuck me in business class from LHR to Dulles a few years back. What an astonishing experience that was. He'd put me in first class to Chicago on a 747, and that wasn't even close to the business in the A380. The quietest, roomiest, and most impressive air travel I've experienced.

[@happilyham6769]

Interesting fact that I don't think Simon mentioned is that the Boeing 747 remained in production even after the last A380 was built.

[@ericlondono4251]

They will continue to carry cargo for a few more decades

[@johniii8147]

Not for long afer and they were only producing 6 per year in the final years. The final passenger version was delivered in 2017

[@musthaf9]

the A380 doesn't have a cargo version

[@DeputyNordburg]

I'd always heard the 747 was more fuel efficient per passenger, at least the final versions, but the 777 was better than both.

[@sureno1833]

Even more interesting is that Airbus got order for 150+ of these planes on last air expo.

[@evan]

I’ve flown in an A380 for business on Emirates and for economy and it’s just a DREAM. The smoothest and quietest plane I’ve ever flown in! On business, the seats massaged you, there is a mini bar next to your seat, and a full bar to chat to other guests. I wish I could get a chance to fly like that again but it was only cause I’d won a contest

[@greglovern4160]

No mention of why the demand turned out to be so much less than Airbus expected. It's because the 777 and 787 were able to fly enough passengers far enough and efficiently enough that the hub and spoke air travel model created by the 747 was rendered obsolete. Now the air travel market is virtually all point to point (again), and there are few point to point routes for which the A380's high capacity is called for over the fuel efficiency of a modern two-engine airliner. He did mention that the A380 would never earn back it's massive investment, but didn't mention that, worse, it will never earn back a SINGLE EURO of that huge investment, PLUS they lost ADDITIONAL money on each aircraft built. At one point Airbus hoped to soon increase production enough for economy of scale to make a profit on each aircraft, but lack of demand forced them to cancel those plans. Though the A380 is a technically very impressive airliner--a technical tour de force--it is far and away the biggest economic failure in the industry's history, and one of the biggest economic failures of any business product in history. With every lost Euro taken from the European taxpayer's pocket, the A380 was an economic disaster. This contrasts starkly with the great economic success of the 747. He makes it sound like Boeing pulled out of the joint project, and canceled plans for a large 747 successor, because they didn't think they could compete with the A380. No, Boeing's change of plans was because unlike Airbus they anticipated where the market was headed, to a place where 4-engine airliners, along with the hub and spoke model, would soon be a thing of the past.

[@jtc1964x]

Great summation

[@rogerphelps9939]

But that is no longer the case and Boeing is in the shit.

[@paulsengupta971]

The A380 is growing in popularity again now, and a load are being "un-retired" back into service.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

_"Oh, right. Yer unfired. I need you. Come here! What do you know about high society?"_

[@truebras]

I wish all other airplanes had a economy class as good as A380. Loved every single time that I flew from US to UK and once from UK to SA and back. It feels special, the roominess, the quietness and the massive size there are no equals.

[@sid35gb]

Sooo true.

[@Pushing_Pixels]

Flying long-haul in any other aircraft feels like a rip-off unless the seats are dirt cheap.

[@bumpy783]

Seating design has nothing to do with the airframe manufacturer but with the airline and their leasing company,

[@truebras]

@@bumpy783, Yes and no. BA A320 doesn’t feel as roomy or comfortable as A380 in economy.😉

[@bumpy783]

@@truebras That’s because BA choose to make the seats closer in short haul flights. BA could fill an entire A320 with roomy first class seats seats if they wanted too, but they would lose money. One economy seat is not the same once the distance to the next seat in front changes.

[@blusox78]

I flew with BA on an A380 London to LA with work years ago. I was in premium economy but when I found out that the flight was on an A380 I paid £500 to upgrade to business. The flight was super smooth and whisper quiet. The return flight was a 747, the experience was like chalk and cheese. Even the latest Boeing and Airbus 2 engine jets don't some close to the comfort of the A380. So glad I had my chance to fly in one.

[@kennethlee4894]

I flew on the A380 from LHR to LAX on BA. I was in economy in the back for the plane, upper deck. VERY nice ride. I was kind of alone there in the back. Fabulous.

[@lukebrennan5780]

I flew in 747's about 50 times. The 380 only 4-5 times, sadly. The A380 left the 747 for dead. A _superb_ passenger experience!

[@jamlarna]

In 2007 I flew to Australia form Heathrow with Singapore airlines and the Airbus A380 I flew on had only been in service 2 weeks , it was absolutely beautiful! So clean and spacious and obviously being Singapore airlines the flight experience was second to none. I remember seeing the bird from the gate window and thinking omg how does it even get off the ground! But I'm so fortunate and glad I had the chance to fly on this, what an amazing experience.

[@RaccooniusIII]

Singapore airlines is trash 😂 what are you on about?

[@dave8599]

After 2 weeks in service it dam well should be "clean"

[@Bobbywolf64]

The airport I work at is far too small to handle the A380 normally (YHZ Halifax). However in 2015 one landed in the afternoon due to a medical emergency. Everyone stood outside the hangar watching this behemoth roll by. It looked like it was taxiing on the service road, but it was just so big it was an optical illusion. I remember there was some concern that the wing tip would hit planes parked on our ramp, but it was fine, just kind of close. I am grateful to see one taxi by, and then take off a short time later. I doubt I'll see another in person since I do not really travel outside North America. It's a little sad to know they are dying out already.

[@thelammacus]

Had the immense pleasure of flying in one of these planes from Guangzhou to Amsterdam during COVID - I had the entire rear of the plane on the top deck to myself! Probably the closest I'll ever come to flying on a private jet, just fabulous!

[@johnstuartsmith]

Although it was pleasant for you, that particular flight probably lost money for the airline. Airlines only make money when their planes are flown with nearly all the seats occupied by paying passengers. A smaller aircraft could fly the same route with the same number of passengers as your half-empty A380 flight and turn a profit.

[@thelammacus]

@@johnstuartsmith did you take classes in being a killjoy?

[@johnstuartsmith]

Sort of.... I took a bunch of classes in Economics, which is otherwise known as "the dismal science."

[@thelammacus]

@@johnstuartsmith then maybe Bezos and the like. Because due to my entire life being ripped apart before that flight I couldn't have given less of a shit, was just a good experience

[@vasilis23456]

​@@johnstuartsmithmost American airlines at least don't make a profit on airplanes even at full capacity, they make money off of selling miles in order to provide cheap tickets. So actually he didn't cause the death of a poor airline flying during Covid.

[@thisiswaytoocomplicated]

I seriously envy a colleague of mine. She flies Emirates A380 (they still have the cocktail bar) every few weeks first class. Compared to all other aircraft besides some private planes this is simply pure luxury.

[@Nymphadora45uvyu]

What does she do? 😮

[@uingaeoc3905]

The B747 was in production for 53 years and sold 1,500. The A380 in production for 16 years and sold 250 units. Over half the production is used by one airline, Emirates which has a unique market from its home base to great distances.

[@thelonesculler]

I've flown the A380 6 times, 1 of which was on the top deck. Fantastic plane, super comfy and way nicer than anything else I've been on

[@mtx1212]

Had the pleasure to fly on the A380 multiple times, and what a machine! Probably the most comfortable and roomy passenger airliner ever imo...

[@johnhboden48]

The problem is arriving at the customs hall with 500 others.

[@RedHotMessResell]

😂😂😂

[@RedHotMessResell]

Done that on a cruise, and that wasn’t fun. It was like herding cattle. And everyone was screaming at us to keep moving. My mom got behind and I wasn’t allowed to go back and get her. I got screamed at for looking behind me to see where she was and was told to walk faster and stop looking back. 😂

[@adamlamar101]

Global Entry 😁

[@davidghydeable]

I remember very early on reading a magazine article which talked about the contrasting business plans between Boing and Airbus. Airbus were betting their fortune on massive point to point planes while Boing were going with smaller hub to hub places where the passengers would need other flights to get to their final destinations. I remember being intrigued to find out who would win, and I guess this video answers that. But as a fan of the 747, I find the A380 just awesome to look at. What a plane

[@mister8765]

I love the a380. I flew on a Qantas flight from Sydney to London in business class recently - only cost £1300 one way! :) was so happy! Was such a great experience!

[@janalbiez9289]

I had the pleasure to fly from Miami to Frankfurt right before COVID restrictions hit in March 2020. I had upgraded to business class on the almost empty upper deck. It was one of the best longhauls I ever had. Quiet and stable. What an aircraft!

[@MadridBarcelonaRota]

Here I am a Kiwi from the antipodes (of Europe, not Asia nor Africa) and I like visiting the nations of my ancestors so although not a million+ kilometer flyer, almost all of my modest economy tourist class flight kilometers were experienced in long haul aircraft. The typical origen to destination trip duration is 30 to 39 hours, exhausting. In my experience no other aircraft 747 included comes close to the comfort quiet and dare I say it the serenity of flying in the A380. Beautiful, huge, comparatively quiet and amazingly stable flights are on the menu of every A380 passenger. Yep, I love travelling in the A380!

[@mannie7028]

Considering so much approval from customers,pilots, crew etc, I’m a little surprised it didn’t make the money to keep it flying! Everyone loved it!

[@torehaaland6921]

Same reasons as behind the current decline of 747. They are great, but they are not economical for most airlines.

[@JoshAwang]

You had me at 0:06... "It can fry from Boston to..." hahaha, but seriously, the A380 experience was simply sublime...

[@AMD7027]

What’s left out here is that the 747 was designed day one to be an air freighter. The whole second upper deck was not for passenger accommodation. It was for the equipment to allow the front of the airplane to swing up the hydraulics, the motors and such that allows it to open up, revealing the large cargo deck on a 747. The passenger variant of the 747 came after those design studies were done. The discarding of the A380 freighter version was one of the most shortsighted decisions made, and ultimately with led to it being killed. 747 will continue on for many many many years as freighter long after it stops flying passengers not doing a freighter version which would require cargo doors, strengthen floors and all sorts of modifications ultimately doomed it in the market. 747 freighters will fly on for many years as they just have no commercial competition

[@theOlLineRebel]

The 747 is brilliant. Speaking as a casual observer with little actual know,edge of planes in general. Versatile between freight and passenger. Putting the cockpit far up so there even can BE an opening for freight. 380 placement in middle of decks negates that. Both should have freight access to rear, but the front access makes it so much more efficient.

[@michaelwilson9245]

I was part of the team repairing the wing cracks. That was a mega project in itself

[@johniii8147]

They now have another major wing cracking issue to deal with.

[@maxsaviation9512]

@@johniii8147even the 747 has cracking around the bulkhead

[@johniii8147]

@@maxsaviation9512Yes I'm aware. The FAA has issued and AD for inspections and repairs if required.

[@andyb.1026]

well the wings are made in UK,, explains it all

[@Sterlingjob]

@@andyb.1026They were designed by airbus.

[@elbaby2001]

The A380 is great plane to fly in. I was fortunate to fly in it from Houston to Dubai (8656 mile/14.5hr) in business class to Dubai and 1st class home. Flying to Dubai in that plane in those seats was a great vacation, then landed celebrated the new years and flew home. Hope to fly on other A380 before this plane is gone.

[@quadrantalerror1121]

Having flown the a380 Dozens of times on different airlines, I can say it’s one of the best if not the best flying experiences you can get. Everyone deserves a chance to fly this magnificent piece of machinery

[@panosgamithis8868]

I flew on a 380 from Thailand to Europe a few years ago... It is an engineering marvel , and it is so stable and comfortable you couldn't feel any turbulence at all... It was like flying on a ....."MAGIC CARPET".....

[@christopherdaniel4841]

Good analysis, overall. Especially the ending. What I missed throughout, however, was: 1) the airport infrastructure modifications necessary to accommodate the A380. This aircraft was always destined to cater to the hand-full of high density routes, unlike Boeing's twin-engine 787 models. 2) the Qantas engine failure departing Singapore. 3) the freighter versions were abandoned by FedEx and UPS due to delays introduced early-on by the wiring harness issues that also effected commercial customers as mentioned, and 4) the Southeast Asian airlines that abandoned the A380. They should never have purchased them in the first place due to a) basic economics, and b) sheer hubris (Malaysian and Thai).

[@SarahRaqs]

I was supposed to return to my home in France from America in March 2020. I picked out a seat on the top deck of an A380 and I was so unbelievably excited - especially because I was in my first year of my masters in aerospace engineering! Sadly, my flight was canceled due to COVID. I hope I get the chance to fly in one before they're all gone

[@FrancoDFernando]

I flew on an Emirates A380 when they had a special to promote their new New York to Milan route. Even economy was pretty damn luxurious with big seats. And the ride was so smooth. Was the only time flying where I wasn’t anxious

[@jonathanjones3126]

Emirates is a state owned airline of course they want to look the best

[@johnpatz8395]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone complain about Emirates, and I’m American, where airlines have become basically flying cattle cars

[@georginathompson3788]

Having been fortunate enough to fly the Emirates A380 first class a number of times, I can say it’s honestly the best ❤.

[@fyrish100]

Flew once in A380 , I kept having to check out the window if we were actually flying or on the ground .. so smooth ✈️

[@StukovM1g]

I've had the privilege to fly in A380s with Malaysia airlines, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. They were marvellous experiences. While the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350s provide a great cabin experience too, nothing beats these beautiful beasts of the sky.

[@jtc1964x]

Sadly, air travel doesn't move along at the speed of technological advances. It moves at the speed of BUSINESS advances. When I was a child, my science teacher projected that all air travel today would be supersonic thanks to the lead of the Concorde. How did that turn out? The world rarely builds the "best" of anything. It builds the most economically feasible - and that is a sad thing!

[@StukovM1g]

@@jtc1964x While it is a shame that air travel is not as technologically advanced as it could be, I think it is a good thing that business advancements propel it along. We live in an era of unprecedented air travel affordability. It allows us to travel for business and leisure cheaper than in decades past, and improves accessibility of air travel. I can afford to travel home once a year from the UK to Malaysia to see family and friends for less than two weeks salary. I would much rather miss out on flying the A380 or a supersonic jet if that means I can only fly home once in 4-5 years, for example.

[@TheBearStudios]

Beyond any doubt an astonishing aircraft and incredible flight experience. Flown it 4 times from Heathrow to Bangkok and blown away by the experience. Such a shame it is struggling to keep its place.

[@timdavies8938]

I have the honour of designing a large part of the underside of the wing. The A380 is the best airliner ever made.

[@arno222444]

By far.

[@koolpep]

Thank you Sir! You did a fabulous job!

[@jasoneldridge4738]

You must be in the UK then ?

[@jimmbbo]

The A380 is a marvelous display of design and engineering that answered a market need that was changing. Boeing on the other hand shelved their next generation 747 to focus on the smaller 787, which was meant to fly direct from city to city as opposed to the hub and spoke system required by the 380. The 787 was produced in several variants, depending on the distance/load requirement of the airline which filled the point to point market perfectly.

[@AbcdEfgh-sq2tf]

You got to admit that Boeing sacrificing the 747-8 for the 787 made them profit like mad. Now 787s are almost seen in everywhere thanks to its insane cost efficiency

[@TheWhore2culture]

I first flew as a baby in 1963,as an unaccompanied minor at the age of 6 & then racked up between 4 - 50+ flight a year,up until the pandemic. I love the 8380,especially if you get the VIP experience at both ends. I've always found the crews on them nicer/happier than on many other planes. But,to be totally honest I've never enjoyed flying,regardless of destination, even flying private which I get to do, too,occasionally. My favourite flying experience of all time was Concorde,which was tiny in comparison to the monster you're talking about today. It's main advantage was the speed & hence time you had to spend on board.

[@Nymphadora45uvyu]

Who are your rich divorced parents?!

[@TheWhore2culture]

@@Nymphadora45uvyu 👌❤️comment💯, my parents were so happy together, that would hold hands till my father died 15 year ago my mother died last yearva 98. My father's jobs took him all over - he was an Arabic scholar,& proficient in many African tribal languages - my mother, was a sort of 'Horse Whisperer, she was just a tad taller than 5feet tall,& had as all riding by 2,be it in England Scotland, Various parts of Africa, we had a house just outside Molo in the mountains of Kenya. My younger brother & sister were born in Yeman. Have a older brother from my father's first marriage & a wonderful & very beautifu, then & now where at 74 she still works for UN as a translator, not sure she'll ever choose to stop working, she lives in Brussels & still flies around a fair bit,her side hustleis translating books& Science papers. With a rribe like that,we were very comfortable, but, never rich. Having see true horror of starvation in Africa & around the world, I would say very extremely rich in in experience & taught to respect other cultures. We were all extremely rich in travel & reality of world & also the ability to travel after school. We lived off the Kings Road down behind Chelsea Town Hal,in a house my parents rentedl & am again,particularly in retrospect,aware of how lucky my childhood was. Around 14 I was headhunted by a talent scout & started modelling,acting, but,again having been privileged to grow up amongst some very famous people, the bulk being on onside or other of a camera. So I started using Concord as on many projects; time being more important than money. The clients of whatever campaign I was cast for paid for Concord,the only time I flew it,as not part of a job,was to use the return part of an Aunt's ticket. Most times I flew was 1st or business, to start with as a result of my father's contracts, which involved a certain style/type of wealth, that you might be thinking of. A private plane was again paid by client or corporate.But,TBH if I was just going on a short flight,I'd happily pay/go economy, which, more often than not bumped me up to Business class as I was such a frequent flyer, a lot of the lovely ground crew - who recognised me,just hand back my passport & boarding card & being super dyslexic & not wanting to jinx it ,I would only find out at the boarding gate or even on occasion as I was boarding the plane. On one excruciatingly embarrassing event happened when tha ground crew,upgraded me to first class,the man behind me in the queue became furious & actually shouting, the lovely lady at the desk pointed him in direction of a huge billboard/Advertisement of me ,which I'd not noticed - I always have a book in my bag,to keep me occupied - and explained that the wrong information had been sent to me & I was actually already booked as 1st class. The other reason it happened so often was,I had never asked/demanded to be upgraded & the ground crew said it was so refreshing not be shouted at OR even smiled at,but,the average irrational, demanding customer who is never going to be upgraded. I have a great friend from school who,has offered to fly me all over, his plane is epic, it has chill zone, dinning room & very comfortable beds, I was I Greece with an old school friend of the 3 of us, we were all going to the same wedding, he dropped Rich at Toulouse,then flew up to,Paris where he had meetings & I got him invited to an awesome party was going to,but,never thought in that style!! Because of my father's job & connections, I've always been blessed, being able to use helicopters, in Egypt, Kenya, Turkey & Oman. Myself & my siblings all used a helicopter in Kashmir to take first my father's ashes & last year my mother's to their favourite get away. A small wooden cabin in a valley with a stunning view of the mountains, we recreated a journey they made each years for about 60 years. No phone service,but,they had a satellite phone, literally no one for miles around , They had a driver & a cook ,always trying to time it for the utterly beautiful Blue Himalayan Poppies. It was like the sky was reflected on the ground. My mother brought back masses of seeds & the garden in Scotland looked amazing. Sorry for such a ramble,but, the most obvious supposition in not always true. Wishing you&yours very best wishes👋⭐️✌️

[@Tekkenmover]

Flew with this plane a few times, and it's hands down the best long haul flight plane, it's such a wonderful calm journey, good space and seeing it standing in the airport, god it's impressive, I will miss that plane.

[@stuartlee6622]

NO PASSENGER AIR VENTS!!

[@denisedinoto9721]

By far the best long-haul flights I've ever had were on a Qantas A380. This spring my friend and I flew to Australia. We went over on a Boeing, which my friend thought was great. I told her to wait for the flight home on the A380. Sure enough, she was impressed with the plane. More comfortable seats, quieter and smoother flight, and more accessible for me as a passenger with a disability.

[@monicacarolina6480]

eh, yes. The 747 was produced many decades earlier. Not a fair competition. Overall the 747 was way more succesful and Boeing produced way more 747's than Airbus did with A380's. I hope Boeing will come with a modern sophisticated version of the 747

[@keithdavis938]

Flew on one for the first time 3 days ago from SFO to LHR - very comfortable. Most interesting route is between Dubai and LA - flies over the North Pole!

[@CGFIELDS]

Flew on a Emirates A380 in 2011 (Dubai to Los Angeles) Was amazed at the size & quality. Was almost empty of passengers.

[@paulmakinson1965]

I never had the chance to fly the 380 and regret it. I did travel on the 747, the queen of the skies, the first 4 engine long range large capacity plane. I remember travelling on a Pan Am 747 as a child back in the 70' and getting to visit the flight deck and even land sitting in the jump seat. It was the old steam gauges cockpit covered in switches. Flying was so much more glamorous back then, Pan Am was so classy, the food was great, the stewardesses were really pretty (yes, a 12 year old kid can appreciate that) and friendly. People actually dressed up to travel back then, they behaved themselves and were much more courteous than today.

[@matthiasweidmann8135]

Best flights with the A 380, in every respect the most advanced aircraft. I never went so relaxed, comfortable and economic from A to B....mostly Dubai to London, Munich, Zürich. Let's hope we have this marvel of engineering for a couple more decades!

[@Ob1sdarkside]

A friend who used to fly a lot with work said it was like flying on a cloud. It beat his experience of the top deck on the 747

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

I was at LAX in 2015- saw that we were going to fly home in this! Rushed to the wife so excited. She was busy chatting to her new friend Tess Daly. While I nerded out over the Airbus. Vernon looked bored also

[@johniii8147]

LOL yeah she was like whatever.

[@Larsx22]

Classic

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

@@longfade that’s partly the point. B list celebs are very temporary. The Airbus A380 is forever (well at least I hoped so). And don’t get me started about my wife fighting Rosamund Pike over the toilets on said same flight!

[@reesebroekhoven3962]

​@PHDiaz-vv7yo B-list celebrities ya say someone trying to feel important

[@PHDiaz-vv7yo]

@@reesebroekhoven3962 nah. I’m just a bunch of kilobytes like you, on a smart phone, trying to elicit a dopamine reaction. Gotta get up and sample the real world in a moment .

[@d.b.cooper1]

By far the best plane I've ever flown on, 4 times & each time you take a step back, truly is spacious & easily quiet & love the cabin especially with Emirates. Hope they keep it around for the next 20 years, find it hard to believe what they'll replace A380 with on many of their high demand routes with limited slots. I see these almost everyday despite living 50 miles away from the airport they have x3 daily flights & you randomly look up at the sky & see this massive thing in the sky that looks natural fling at like 8k you can see increble detail.

[@EntryLevelLuxury]

The bad weather route into SFO took planes directly over my apartment in Oakland. It was SO cool to see A380's lumbering overhead into the wind. Absolutely massive planes.

[@TheChaseFiore]

I flew on 4 of them last year to and from Thailand. By far, the best long haul experience I've ever had. It's noticeably quieter than the Boeing planes, and Emerates did a good job of making sure everyone onboard felt comfortable. Coming home I upgraded to business class and I'm pretty sure I've spoiled for life after having a lay flat seat on back to back 12 hour flights.

[@eddyguizonde401]

i've lived in toulouse most of my life. i know quite a few people who built them. hell, my dad brokered the deal between airbus and singapore, and he was the one to manage its production until 2012. this plane led directly to my city becoming the european of aerospace engineering. airbus grew from a small company back in the 70's into the powerhouse it is today, and it employs i think 1 in 5 in my region. it's kind of a big deal over here.

[@johniii8147]

Actually it was John Leahy that brokered the deal, as he did with all major deals during his tenure.

[@eddyguizonde401]

@@johniii8147 my dad is simon greaves, one of leahy's lieutenants during that time. Met leahy a couple of times

[@gentleken7864]

The A380 is my absolute favourite plane. It's huge and you wonder how it could ever fly. In-flight it is quiet and smooth. Flown it many times from Asia to Europe and loved it. It also has a great safety record too. What's not to like about it?

[@Elliasp-xx7mb]

well... you got the point : companies do not take care about our comfort, they want our money :/

[@marktg98]

The fact that it has 4 engines. It's very costly to fly, and is terrible for the environment as a result. Hopefully they'll eventually create a big enough engine to be able to make such a monster with only 2 engines.

[@andersjjensen]

@@marktg98 Part of it's great fuel economy comes from running 4 engines at peak efficiency instead of running 2 at max output.

[@johniii8147]

@@andersjjensen It has anything BUT great fuel economy. It's extremely heavy and, lot of wasted space on the plane, and last generation engines.

[@raymarshall6721]

​@@andersjjensenit is far from fuel efficient, it's fuel costs forces most carriers (outside of quantas) to operate them at a loss. No wide body 2 engine operate at max engine power, not even on take-off in most cases.

[@ralf-peterberg1083]

I had long-distance flights on 747 (FRA-JNB) and A380 (MUC-DXB). Comfort of the refurbished LH747 is way behind the ET A380. Less noise, don’t feel turbulence, seating comfort, entertainment, etc - and I’m talking economy class. Great to see the A380 airborne again!

[@zoltanmilic]

I said this many times but the most comfortable, "human centered" (in a lack of the better word), and serene flying experience as a passenger was on A 380. The only plane in decades that made me excited about flying. Glad to see it back.

[@tattooedredheadx]

My father worked on this aircraft, among many others. 40 years as an Aerospace Assembler. :) Proud of him.

[@Bubviv]

Flew on Emirates A380 from Dubai to Seoul in 2019. Best flight experience of my life!! I was astounded by the luxury inside and what a comfortable journey it was.

[@blaster915]

A favourite of mine, windows so deep you feel like you're looking through a submarine window! A beautiful smooth flyer. Always take the chance when I get one to fly on it 🥰

[@genkibob]

Sad to see it going away. I flew Emirates A380 a couple times for business. The seats were spaciously comfortable and I enjoyed hanging out at the bar in back, chatting with the crew and other passengers.

[@MrButtonpresser]

Business class upstairs on an Emirates A380 is a sublime experience. We actually choose our major destinations based on where the 380 goes. Extra quiet, spacious and comfortable. Nothing in the wide body class comes close.

[@ronaldtharappel5633]

Please bring more A380s back into service. It is simply the best aircraft in existence.

[@TheOnlyName]

Great video! I hope I can get the opportunity to fly on an A380 while they are still in service.

[@TJ_GAming001]

I don't know if they're really done here, but I had a couple of projects that I thought would be really cool to maybe see Simon explain. 1. The Mosquito on steroids (a.k.a the De Havilland Hornet ) it seemed to have so much potential but never really came to fruition, or 2. The Chieftain S.I.D, it's another interesting project never really talked about.

[@lululemon0424]

believe i had a chance to fly A380 like 15 years ago when i was still a teenager. still one of the best long haul flying experiences i have had so far. the only similar experience can match its level of comfort is the latest 787 dreamliner, but still not quite the same experience as a380 is huge and spacious.

[@somedaywellknow1811]

The A380 one of the technological wonders of the modern world

[@jacpat5372]

Flew to Australia on the A380 from Heathrow to Singapore then onto Brisbane....Best flights ever...I actually forgot I was in a plane as its so quiet.

[@therichieboy]

Premium economy at the back of the upper deck on singapore airlines was the flying experience of my life. How I didnt pay a penny extra is unbelieveable. I remember asking my wife why the overhead bins were so rattly. Then i realised it was because i couldnt hear any external noise!

[@mattburley3189]

Well this didn’t age well. Thank goodness! May the King return 🎉

[@lilyhoran9118]

It was incredible popular in South Africa for flights to Europe because they are always over 10 hours and no where to stop over. Flew in it many times before covid was always pleasant

[@themetalchica]

The 747 was, in the truest sense, awesome to behold and fly on. It was huge. Absolutely gigantic. Whenever I board a plane, I still look up and hope to see that audience of passengers looking back. I feel bad for those who didn't get to experience it. God, the 80s ruled.

[@mlisaj1111]

AND it used to have an upstairs lounge and snack bar, where you could just walk up, get a soda and sit on a couch or table. I remember doing laps around the aisles as a kid during the flight, and getting to see the cockpit after….the pilots even had little “pilots wings” for the visiting kids. But…they did have still have a “smoking section”, though phased out by the 80s.

[@themetalchica]

@@mlisaj1111 If I'd known how different things would be now, I'd have kept every set of "pilot's wings" ever given to me! To visit the cockpit felt like an honor! Thanks for those happy memories! Life was grander then--yet, simultaneously, simpler.

[@dfs-comedy]

When I was 11, my family emigrated from South Africa to Canada and we flew on a 747 from London to Winnipeg. The flight attendant asked if I wanted to see the galley, which was below the main deck and had a little elevator for bringing the food carts up. Then my Dad and I got to go into the cockpit and chat with the pilots while the plane was flying. The late '70s was a much more innocent time.

[@themetalchica]

@@dfs-comedy Did you dress up for the plane? We kids did, or my mom dressed us up. It was a big deal. I miss it, but also appreciate being able to wear comfy sweats on the plane now!

[@licencetoswill]

the big bird is by far the quietest and most comfortable airliner in the sky, especially the upper deck.

[@SidIcarus]

Ha! I did the Dallas to Sydney flight on the A380 back in 2014. It's a real bummer that jumbos are going away and my kids probably won't get to fly on one. It's just a more impressive experience

[@citywitt3202]

I once flew private into the south of France. We were taxiing and the pilot called back into our 6 seater cabin, if you look to the left you’re welcome to feel inadequate. There was an Airbus A380 parked there. He told us it was for a family of 4. I can’t even begin to think how different that life must be. That thing was bigger than Airforce 1!

[@thomasdickson35]

6:01 CORPUS COLLOSUM! I knew paying attention in anatomy would come in handy.

[@thomasdickson35]

6:01 to 7:30 Was that the longest euphemism I've ever heard?

[@rasmusjurs7073]

I never knew Obi-Wan knew so much about planes.