First Trip to US on Qantas A380

[Sprucegoose]

There's always been lots of discussion amongst the pilots as to just why the 767 sits down the way it does. Generally though, most feel that it something to do with the way the spoilers activate as soon as the rear tyres have touched down..in which case the suspension may not yet be compressed, so it forces the aircraft that last few inches of travel. It's a surprising 'feature' as it converts a greaser into a firmish touchdown. On the other hand...the aircraft actually sits down more comfortably if you have a slightly higher sink rate at touchdown. The 747 and 380 both have a tendency to float, and that often translates into a smooth (good) but long (bad) touchdown.

A smooth touchdown on a wet runway is something that you should not be trying to achieve, nor will they often be smooth in crosswinds.

Oh, and if you want firm...in the A4G we did not flare AT ALL. 700 feet per minute straight into the ground.

A mate in the air force once remarked they were jealous of the guys that flew the 727, they reckon it has the best wings in the business!! I was a kid at the time they were around.

Arriving one day in Lusaka on SAA a gust picked up the little 737 and bounced it around a little, the lovely female pilot got on the PA and apologized! Took it personally I guess! Cuts both ways sometimes.

 

[serfty]

...
Oh, and if you want firm...in the A4G we did not flare AT ALL. 700 feet per minute straight into the ground.

Of course, various environmental factors needed consideration:

YouTube - A4G Skyhawk on HMAS Melbourne Deck Ops early 1970s

(See from 1:19)

 

[Champo]

Hey guys,

so i am really glad i discovered this place it is very helpful!

Im heading to the US with my sister on saturday (first time in the US- i have flown to Europe in 2010)..

Now i am a VERY nervous flyer, and really am already panicing. With what has happened with the A380 has anyone flown this to LAX in the last month or so?

How was the flight (from a comfort and turbulence experience) and what should i expect..

How can i get rid of the nerves, i do generally think the plane will fall out or turbulence will impact the plane.

Cheers!

Have just returned this week on QF12 Qantas A380 from LAX to Syd (QF11 over), also Qf31 to London last year. It is a great aircraft, much quieter than 747, roomier in Y with excellent high quality entertainment system. Felt the best I ever have from long haul flight.

 

[ozimax]

We returned from USA last month flying QF11,12 (A380 to/from LAX). I must disagree with the last poster as I thought Y class in the A380 more cramped than the 747. I may be wrong though. Maybe I've put on more weight in recent days...

The A380 is really, really quiet and really, really smooth. The landing in LAX was, well, most people hardly knew we had landed. It was as smooth as a babies' bottom.

As has been said earlier, the most dangerous part of your trip will be crossing the road or driving to the airport. You will enjoy the plane, especially the entertainment package. It's very good.

All the best for your flight.

P.S. My all time favourite plane was the 727. The seats were sensational.

 

[warpspeed]

It always amazes me how people get freaked out by turbulence.

My favourite is the folks who see and point out the engine nacelles and the wings bobbing up and down. I'd be more worried if they didn't do that.

 

[ozimax]

It always amazes me how people get freaked out by turbulence.

My favourite is the folks who see and point out the engine nacelles and the wings bobbing up and down. I'd be more worried if they didn't do that.

Go easy son, have you been in real bad turbulence? I can easily imagine how many flyers, even frequent ones, can become quite scared when things get rough. My eldest son is a QF Platinum flier. A few months ago, (returning from Parliament House in Canberra), the plane hit turbulence. Flight attendants went cartwheeling down the aisle, drinks and food ended up on the ceiling. He stuck out his arm and rescued a trolley from becoming a missile before things calmed down. I know this is unusual but it does happen.

 

[simongr]

Go easy son, have you been in real bad turbulence? I can easily imagine how many flyers, even frequent ones, can become quite scared when things get rough. My eldest son is a QF Platinum flier. A few months ago, (returning from Parliament House in Canberra), the plane hit turbulence. Flight attendants went cartwheeling down the aisle, drinks and food ended up on the ceiling. He stuck out his arm and rescued a trolley from becoming a missile before things calmed down. I know this is unusual but it does happen.

The first question I always ask myself when we hit bad turbulence is "Oh my god - am I drinking red or white wine?" as that significantly changes my actions - red requires a very steady hand and rapid consumption to avoid staining trousers - white on the other hand is less risky so I can refocus on the cheese plate.

I have held down a trolley once whilst the CX cabin crew continued to serve the smoked salmon entree.

One thing I have noticed recently is a lot more turbulence than I recall in the past - multiple flights recently have had steady ongoing turbulence...

 

[ozimax]

I have held down a trolley once whilst the CX cabin crew continued to serve the smoked salmon entree.

Ruining smoked salmon entree would indeed be a disaster!

 

[warpspeed]

Go easy son, have you been in real bad turbulence?

Absolutely, I've worn a thing or two in the past as a result. But I also understand that it happens, and that aircraft are designed to handle it.

I'm talking about people freaking out when the plane does the equivalent of driving on a dirt track at 100km/h.

I can understand people freaking out a bit when you hit a bit of clear air and the plane drops a hundred feet or so, or some of that quick 'jolty' turbulence happening out of the blue, where it feels like the plane almost hit something.

 

[Myrna]

P.S. My all time favourite plane was the 727. The seats were sensational.

Agree! I used to love the B727 seats when Australian Airlines had them - so spacious, even in Y class. Nowadays, the Y seats are getting tighter, and I am not a tall or big person at all I cannot cross my legs easily on some planes!

 

[Myrna]

We went to LAX in mid-Feb on A380 and returned via LHR and SIN also on A380 (crew said this plane was less than a month old). I usually freaked out at turbulence, but the flights we had were generally smooth so I was very thankful. I noticed every time we crossed the date line there was always turbulence, and every time the drinks were served. I don't like it when they filled the glass to the rim, and I had to hold the glass while my heart was racing at the same time!

 

[Skyring]

Flew back from LAX on an A380 last year. Smooth and quiet and if I have to fly Y, I LOVE the chairs Qantas puts in the Big Bird. Those webby footholders are excellent. There's also a fair bit of room to move around.

Remember my first trip to London in a 744. Somewhere around Ceylon we threaded our way between storms and at one point I looked out and the engines were swinging around like a kid on a rope. Wobble-wobble-wobble they went and my heart kept time. Eventually I figured there wasn't anything I could do and I went back to sleep.

Turbulence doesn't bother me too much. I always keep my belt on, just in case, but it's the cabin crew I really admire. I can just imagine those CX girls smiling and serving out the goodies as the plane tumbles through the air.

Thanks for the link to the Skyhawk ops. The Melbourne was only a tiny ship really, compared to the big Yank carriers. It looks like those jets went from flying to full stop in about the length of a cricket pitch. You'd really want to have your belt buckled tight! I remember reading that the RAN pilots would always invite the Yanks to visit in their Skyhawks, and the invitation would always be declined!

Pilots and flight deck crew alike had some guts, just looking at the footage and seeing how close to the edge they lived. I sometimes think backing a Statesman taxi up a narrow curving sloping driveway late at night is difficult, but I take my cap off to these guys! Clipping a fender is the worst I can expect, but if those guys sneezed at the wrong time, they were history!

And I guess some of them were.