A380's first passenger flight

[ardypilot]

This story was just on prime news, look out for it on TV1/TV3 news later on:

PARIS: : The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger jet, took off with a full load of passengers for the first time on Monday even as Airbus's $13 billion super jumbo programme continues to be marred by costly delays.

Carrying 474 Airbus employees, the 308-tonne jet left from Toulouse, southern France, on the first of four test flights scheduled this week to try out the plane's cabin environment and systems with passengers on board.

Airbus says it is on schedule to deliver the first finished A380 to Singapore Airlines Ltd by the end of the year, despite the latest wave of costly delays that are expected to hold up subsequent deliveries by about six months. With the A380, Airbus has bet heavily on future demand for very large planes. In mid-sized, long-range jets Airbus is four years behind its US-based rival Boeing's next-generation plane, the 787 Dreamliner, tailored to cover more destinations with more frequent, nonstop services

[brownbox]

hmm strange, I thought they had already launched the a380, and it was already being flown. Oh well, hope everything goes well for them

[squirrel350]

I thought Qantas already took delivery of there A380

[Charl]

We're a breed apart, us flightsimmers.
The Boeing 787 has been in my NZ skies for more than a year, the A380 possibly longer.
I'm sometimes a bit surprised not to see the thing in reality on the apron at Auckland.
At least we can't be accused of dwelling in the past?
Mmm second thoughts, there are those castor oil and scarf nutters...

[squirrel350]

I think I will find an A380 and 7E7 so I have at least 2 - 3 fixed wing in my fleet

[Zöltuger]

there's just something about the A380 i don't trust. must be the same thing as people thought about when the 747 was first built.
brave passengers to take flight IMO. mind you, the passengers help build the A380, so it must be a sense of pride for them