Four most memorable aircraft according to component experts

There have been countless lists comparing and contrasting the greatest aircraft of all time, but what about those that are often overlooked? We asked the experts at leading aircraft component supply and repair solutions company Artemis Aerospace to tell us which aircraft they are most fond of and why....

BAC 1-11

Jim Scott – Co-founder and owner

 

Photo Ken Fielding/https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenfielding

An early jet liner produced by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), the BAC 1-11 was originally conceived by Hunting Aircraft as a 30-seat jet, before its merger with BAC in 1960. Following a British United Airways order in 1961, it eventually became an 80-seater design to compete with the early Boeing 737 variants that would be used by multiple carriers worldwide. After its first commercial flight in 1965, the aircraft was redesigned in 1967 to introduce a stretched 500 series. Jim remembers them fondly:

 

“It was the first civil aircraft I remember flying back in the early 70s and a stalwart of British Caledonian’s fleet out of Gatwick that serviced European holiday destinations. In my case, it was the magic machine that took us to Spain!

 

“The BAC 1-11 was something of a pocket rocket, with its pair of aft-mounted Rolls-Royce Spey engines. This added to the magic for me as a passenger, as there was always an incredible roar during take-off. It was also rather special for its over-wing facing seats and the ability to deploy a set of airstairs from below its tail. Naturally, these features were long before anyone thought of maximising passenger numbers and minimising weight for the sake of economics!”

 

BAe 146 Whisperjet

Deborah Scott - Co-founder and owner

 

Manufactured in the UK by British Aerospace (later BAE Systems), the BAe 146 was in production from 1983 until 2001 and can still be seen in service today. Designed as a short-haul and regional airliner, improved versions of the aircraft were launched in 1992 (Avro RJ) and 1997 (Avro RJX). However, only two prototypes and one production aircraft of the Avro RJX were ever produced before production ceased in 2001. One of the most successful British civil jet airliners produced, the Avro RJ/BAe 146 is a small, beautifully proportioned jet that Deborah considers was ahead of its time. She says:

 

Photo RAF

“It was extremely quiet and agile, so it was ideal for built-up areas – it could come in at very steep angles and land effortlessly on short city-centre runways, such as London City Airport. For business travellers taking short journeys in the 1990s, the Whisperjet was luxurious compared to alternatives, such as the twin-engine turbo prop F27, which couldn’t fly above bad weather. Passengers on these aircraft would experience a lot of turbulence while flying over the Channel.

 

“The Whisperjet’s innovative design meant there were fewer components, thus keeping maintenance to a minimum. The QC (Quick Change) version had modular seats which can very easily be reconfigured for freight transportation. This meant it could fly passengers during the day and freight during the night – beauty and brains. What a fabulous aircraft!”

 

Airbus A380

Dan Frith – Flight Simulator Support Sales Director and Beth Wright – Sales Manager

 

One of the most recent additions to the skies, the magnificent A380 with its large wide-body, huge wingspan and four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 turbofans, is immediately identifiable when it flies overhead.

 

First delivered to Singapore Airlines in October 2007, it is the world’s largest passenger aircraft and can hold up to 853 passengers – hence its nickname, Superjumbo. At its peak, as many as 30 aircraft a year were being produced. In 2021, Airbus announced its production would end. However, this full-length double-decker aircraft has remained a firm favourite among aircraft enthusiasts.

 

With two votes from the team, the majesty of this aircraft certainly hasn’t been lost on the passengers of today.

 

Dan was at Farnborough Air Show in 2006 to see its public debut and has loved the experience of flying A380 ever since. He said:

 

“The first time I got to fly on the A380 was during a trip to Singapore. I was in the economy cabin, which is extremely spacious and comfortable. It’s also the quietest aircraft I have ever travelled on, which seems bizarre considering it’s also the biggest!”

 

Beth, who is former British Airways cabin crew, has travelled on them for work and leisure. She has fond memories of both:

 

“I have always loved flying on the A380. For such a large aircraft, it’s incredibly comfortable and absorbs a lot of turbulence – so much so that I could hardly feel the sudden incline of a go-around during an approach into LAX. Passengers were always thrilled to have a tour of it – they were particularly fascinated by the staircases at the forward and rear sections. Such is the size of the aircraft, that during take-off, I often remember feeling we would surely run out of runway by the time we took off!”

If you'd like your very own Airbus A380,  you might give the European manufacturer a call and ask them, or better yet just take a look at these super aircraft models.... 

Air Models have various airlines and sizes available,  that look so superb.

The one on the left is 1/160 scale with a wingspan of  50.5cm and a length of 45.5cm.

Includes a stand and detachable landing gear. 

 

Boeing 747SP

Andre Viljoen – Global Logistics Manager

 

A shortened version of the Boeing 747, the 747SP was designed to compete with McDonnell Douglas’s DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.

 

Part of Pan Am’s iconic fleet until the airline ceased operating in 1991, the 747SP was borne out of a request by the company to create a 747 variant that could carry a full payload, non-stop on its longest route at that time between New York and Tehran. The company took delivery of the first aircraft, Clipper Freedom, in 1976.

 

Originally, the aircraft was designated the name 747SB for ‘short body’, but later became SP for ‘special performance’ – a nod to the aircraft’s greater range and higher cruising speed.

 

Andre, a former South African Airways pilot, explains why it is his favourite civil aircraft of all time:

 

“I first flew on a 747SP in 1979 (JNB-LHR) when it was a relatively new addition to the SAA fleet. It was ideal for the requirements at that time, which demanded a high-performance, long-range aircraft. Cruising at Mach 0.86, it could get to its ceiling of 45,000 feet faster and stay there longer than any of its counterparts. This made it more fuel-efficient and helped increase its range by 1200NM.

 

“It was an absolute joy to fly and had the benefit of a flight engineer – something technology has now consigned to history.

 

“In the end, Boeing only ever produced 45 airframes, but its wing design and engineering heralded the production of later aircraft, such as the SUD 300 and 747-400.

 

“In 1996, my journey came full circle when I was part of a crew that flew an SAA SP from JNB to the old Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong. After a long dark night over the Indian Ocean, flying the checkerboard approach onto runway 13 really did help focus the mind and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!”

British Airways 747 Model. 

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Get ready to buy a bit of an Airbus A380 - auction of A380 parts....

On the 13, 14 and 15 October 2022, five hundred A380 parts will be auctioned by Airbus for the benefit of the Airbus Foundation and the AIRitage association.

These parts were selected following the deconstruction of MSN 13 by TARMAC Aerosave, partner of the auction. 

Lamps, the bar, stairs, handrails, trolleys, seats, paddles, and even the cockpit rescue rope: more than 500 items, mostly from the cabin of this emblematic aircraft, will be offered to enthusiasts at an auction to be held in Toulouse and on the Internet, under the hammer of Maître Labarbe. 

The vast majority of the parts come from the A380 MSN13, which entered service in 2008 and was meticulously deconstructed in 2021 by TARMAC Aerosave, the world leader in the sustainable management of aircraft end of life, from maintenance to recycling, which you can discover in the video here.

Since its creation in 2007-  by Airbus, Safran and Suez -  TARMAC Aerosave has been implementing the most environmentally friendly processes for the dismantling and recycling of aircraft and engines. In line with current European regulations, the techniques used enable a recovery rate of more than 90% of the aircraft to be achieved. 

In addition to the aircraft and engine recycling activities, TARMAC Aerosave is the European leader in storage and an important player in the transition and maintenance of aircraft. Discover these four activities in video here. 

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British Airways to expand US flights including the return of the A380......

Photo British Airways

British Airways to fly from 26 US cities direct to London this summer with:

Portland, Oregon route launched June 3, the only direct London route for PDX

Pittsburgh restarted June 3 and San Jose, California on June 13

A daytime flight launches from Newark to London, supporting business travel returning

A380 sees a return to North America airports to accommodate increasing demand

Photo British Airways

The UK's British Airways is in the process of ramping up its US route network for this summer which will amount to a total of 26 routes at its height.

The carrier has just restarted service to Pittsburg and also it's latest destination Portland, Oregon commenced yesterday, June 3rd. The flight to Portland International Airport (PDX) is scheduled to operate five times per week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Pittsburg route, is a year-round service, flying four times a week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Both routes are currently scheduled to be flown by Boeing 787 aircraft.

Photo British Airways

On June 6, British Airways launches a new, daytime flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to London Heathrow – its third daily flight from Newark to London, to support the return of business travel.

The daytime flight will depart at 7.55am from Newark - a convenient option for travellers wishing to spend an extra night in the New York area before departing, or for those who wish to arrive just in time for an evening in London.  With this additional flight time, British Airways along with its joint business partner, American Airlines will offer the most extensive network from the New York area to London with 15 daily departures this summer, including 11 daily flights from JFK to Heathrow and 1 daily flight from JFK to Gatwick. 

Photo British Airways

This summer also marks the return of daily direct flights from San Jose, California, to London on June 13; and the return of A380 aircraft to more North American airports. Chicago and Vancouver were the latest cities to welcome home the Airbus earlier this week. Meanwhile, Dallas Fort Worth is preparing to welcome the A380 for the first time on July 1.  The aircraft, which is British Airways’ and the airline industry’s largest, offers a choice of First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins and has a total of 469 seats.  There are 12 A380s in the British Airways fleet. 

Photo British Airways

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Photo British Airways

Photo British Airways

Photo British Airways

Photo British Airways

Photo British Airways

Photo British Airways

Photo British Airways

Photo British Airways

Emirates takes Dubai’s vision of tomorrow to the skies, launching Museum of the Future custom A380 livery

Photo Emirates 

Emirates has revealed a new custom A380 livery dedicated to Dubai’s newest architectural icon and centre for pioneering concepts and ideas, the Museum of the Future.

The first Emirates A380 (A6-EVK) to sport this exciting new livery, takes flight tomorrow to Los Angeles. As its nine other aircraft siblings roll out of the dedicated Aircraft Appearance Centre at Emirates Engineering over the coming weeks, Emirates’ Museum of the Future A380s will be deployed on routes to Europe as well as key Arab regional cities.

Photo Emirates 

This initiative underscores the airline’s unwavering commitment to support Dubai’s vision as the leading city of the future, a hub for innovation and a testbed for emerging technologies. It also crystallises the UAE’s 50 years of development and progress.

The seven-storey, pillarless, torus-shaped Museum of the Future, dubbed as the ‘world’s most beautiful building’, has become one of Dubai’s definitive design marvels, and aims to inspire the world to imagine the possibilities of tomorrow, featuring mesmerising installations and futuristic experiences. The building’s ring forms a void to represent unknown and undiscovered knowledge.  

The Museum will also act as an incubator for scientists, thinkers and researchers to bring their bold ideas and visions of the future to life, especially across areas like sustainability, outer space, health, and other critical global challenges. It will also be a platform to trial and demonstrate the latest technological discoveries, with prototypes that will continually evolve from emerging start-ups and established technology enterprises.

The ring-shaped, Arabic calligraphy encapsulated building encircles both sides of the aircraft, and features the message ‘Journey to the future’ across the fuselage, covering a total of 336 sqm on the A380. The façade is decorated with quotes from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The airline will produce 10 A380 liveries in total, which will fly across close to 30 destinations around the world in the coming year, carrying the museum’s message of creating a better future, now.

Photo Emirates 

 

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First A380 powered by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel takes to the skies

Airbus has performed the first A380 flight powered by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Airbus’ A380 test aircraft MSN 1 took off from Blagnac Airport, Toulouse, France at 08h43 on Friday 25 March. The flight lasted about three hours, operating one Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine on 100% SAF.

27 tonnes of unblended SAF were provided by Total Energies for this flight. The SAF produced in Normandy, close to Le Havre, France, was made from Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), free of aromatics and sulphur, and primarily consisting of used cooking oil, as well as other waste fats. A second flight, with the same aircraft, is scheduled to take place from Toulouse to Nice Airport, on the 29 March to test the use of SAF during take-off and landing.

This is the third Airbus aircraft type to fly on 100% SAF over the course of 12 months; the first was an Airbus A350 in March 2021 followed by an A319neo single-aisle aircraft in October 2021. 

Increasing the use of SAF remains a key pathway to achieving the industry’s ambition of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Key statistics outlined in the Waypoint 2050 report indicate that SAF could contribute between 53% and 71% of required carbon reductions.

All Airbus aircraft are currently certified to fly with up to a 50% blend of SAF mixed with kerosene. The aim is to achieve certification of 100% SAF by the end of this decade.

The A380 aircraft used during the test is the same aircraft recently revealed as Airbus’ ZEROe Demonstrator - a flying testbed for future technologies instrumental to bringing the world’s first zero-emission aircraft to market by 2035.

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Qantas A380 wake ups will see first class return to the skies.

The Australian airline Qantas has confirmed that it is about to reinstate its full First Class offering at the end of this month both on the ground and in the air as post-pandemic international travel steadily recovers and the national carrier wakes up more of its A380 superjumbo fleet.

A fourth Qantas A380 has emerged from the Californian desert with Reginald Ansett (VH-OQH) leaving the storage yard this month for the first time since it was parked there in March 2020.

Qantas utilised the downtime while the aircraft were in the desert to upgrade the popular A380s increasing the number of premium seats and refurbishing the cabins. The aircraft have a reconfigured business class cabin, with 70 updated business suites, and an extended premium economy section with 60 seats, up from 35, as well as refreshed economy and First cabins.

The upper deck lounge has also had a full upgrade with booth style seating for 10 people, a self-service bar and an option to order signature drinks and snacks.

From 27 March, Qantas will reopen its Sydney and Melbourne International Business Lounges as more passengers take to the skies and revert its First Lounges in Australia, which operated as hybrid First/Business Lounges during the pandemic, to the full premium offering.

Eligible First Lounge customers will again enjoy a Neil Perry curated à la carte dining menu, Champagnes and fine Australian wines, as well as a seasonal cocktail selection.

The Spa will also reopen offering bespoke pre-travel treatments such as hot stone massages and mini facials using LaGaia products.

Qantas Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said the return of airline’s premium offerings is a welcome sign of travel continuing to take off.

“We know that our customers have missed the Qantas A380 travel experience as much as our team has missed being able to provide it for them so it’s fantastic that we’re back in the air with our premium full service on these newly refurbished aircraft.”

The First cabin on the 485-seat A380 is popular with Frequent Flyers for its comfortable suites with fully lay flat beds, premium Neil Perry multi-course dining experience, award winning Australian wine cellar and Martin Grant designed PJs.

Qantas will also reopen its First Check-in suite at Sydney International for First customers and top tier Frequent Flyers to enjoy a personalised and streamlined check-in.

The Qantas A380 currently operates flights from Sydney to Los Angeles and from June will also operate flights between Sydney and London via Singapore.

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Airbus and CFM International to pioneer hydrogen combustion technology

Airbus has signed a partnership agreement with CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines, to collaborate on a hydrogen demonstration programme that will take flight around the middle of this decade.   

The programme’s objective is to ground and flight test a direct combustion engine  fueled by hydrogen, in preparation for entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft by 2035. The demonstration will use a A380 flying testbed equipped with liquid hydrogen tanks prepared at Airbus facilities in France and Germany. Airbus will also define the hydrogen propulsion system requirements, oversee flight testing, and provide the A380 platform to test the hydrogen combustion engine in cruise phase. 

CFM International (CFM) will modify the combustor, fuel system, and control system of a GE Passport turbofan to run on hydrogen. The engine, which is assembled in the US, was selected for this program because of its physical size, advanced turbo machinery, and fuel flow capability. It will be mounted along the rear fuselage of the flying testbed to allow engine emissions, including contrails, to be monitored separately from those of the engines powering the aircraft. CFM will execute an extensive ground test program ahead of the A380 flight test.

“This is the most significant step undertaken at Airbus to usher in a new era of hydrogen-powered flight since the unveiling of our ZEROe concepts back in September 2020,” said Sabine Klauke, Airbus Chief Technical Officer. “By leveraging the expertise of American and European engine manufacturers to make progress on hydrogen combustion technology, this international partnership sends a clear message that our industry is committed to making zero-emission flight a reality.”

“Hydrogen combustion capability is one of the foundational technologies we are developing and maturing as part of the CFM RISE Program,” said Gaël Méheust, president & CEO of CFM. “Bringing together the collective capabilities and experience of CFM, our parent companies, and Airbus, we really do have the dream team in place to successfully demonstrate a hydrogen propulsion system.” 

CFM shares Airbus’ ambition of fulfilling the promise they made in signing the Air Transport Action Group goal in October 2021 to achieve aviation industry net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by developing and testing the technology necessary to make zero emissions aircraft a reality within the ambitious timeline defined.

Airbus has a long-standing relationship with CFM and its parent companies, GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines and, together, the partners have established a great track record of delivering high-performance products that meet the needs of airline customers.

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Treat yourself to a piece of history - buy a bit of an Airbus A380

On 27 April 2005, the A380 lifted off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport for its inaugural flight. This global event, remembered by millions, marked the beginning of a remarkable love affair between this exceptional aircraft and people all over the world.

To nurture this passion, Airbus has decided to organise an auction of A380 parts from 23 to 25 June 2022. This will give enthusiasts the opportunity to buy a real piece of history with parts selected for their technological and often aesthetic interest.

What will be available to buy?

Lamps, bars, stairs, handrails, trolleys, seats, and even the cockpit escape rope: nearly 500 items, the vast majority of which are from the cabin of this iconic aircraft, will be offered for sale during this event, which will be held both in-person and remotely, managed by the auctioneer Marc Labarbe.

Most of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Airbus Foundation to help fund its humanitarian initiatives. Some of those proceeds will also be donated to the AIRitage association, which works to protect aviation heritage. 

Almost all the parts headed for auction come from the A380 MSN13. This aircraft, which entered service on 23 October 2008, carried up to 489 passengers in a three-class configuration. Other parts, such as the business class seats, have been taken from different A380 aircraft.

The MSN13 was decommissioned in 2021 by Tarmac Aerosave, a world leader in sustainable end-of-life aircraft management, with advanced dismantling and recycling techniques that allow a recovery rate of over 90%.

This auction, and the delivery of the MSN272, the last aircraft ever produced, to Emirates in December 2021, do not mark the end of operations for the A380. The Airbus Superjumbo will continue to operate for decades on multiple routes around the world, to the delight of passengers who continue to enjoy the A380 experience.

This auction, however, is a tribute to this aircraft. It is this programme that has enabled Airbus to become, what it is today, an integrated company, offering a full range of efficient aircraft; a pioneering global leader in sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world.

What would you buy?   Adam would buy the stairs from the main to the upper deck, Josh would buy a galley,  I'd buy the manufacturing plate and maybe a row of seats..... Or if I had the cash,  I'd buy a whole aircraft to fly pleasure flights around the world......oh well,  we can all dream.

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The last A380...... Emirates takes its 123rd A380 from Airbus

Emirates received its 123rd A380 in Hamburg on December 16, 2021. The close collaboration with Airbus has shaped the identity of the A380 over the years and continues to transform the passenger experience today. It is the 251st A380 delivered by Airbus.

A shared ambition

The story of the A380 is closely linked to Emirates. In the early 2000s, Airbus launched the A380 in response to airport congestion by creating an aircraft capable of serving global hubs. An ambition shared by Emirates, whose unique geographical position allows them to connect Dubai to all the world's airports such as Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Singapore or Sydney, creating the possibility to fly more than 500 passengers around the world on one aircraft. Emirates' appetite for the A380 is insatiable: with 123 A380s delivered, 50 destinations and 12 maintenance centres, the airline is unquestionably a major A380 customer.

 

The first and the last face each other.....

"Emirates has built its growth and success with the A380. Each new A380 is an opportunity for Emirates to offer passengers a new experience in terms of cabin comfort and choice of destination, taking full advantage of the business model offered by the A380"

-Bertrand George, Head of A380 programme. 

 

The airline’s strategy has enabled Airbus teams to improve the aircraft's operational performance by up to 99.3%, a level never seen before on a four-engine aircraft - and to develop new innovations on an ongoing basis. The attention to detail given to the cabin illustrates the duo's win-win approach. 

 

Cabin innovation

"Emirates has always pushed boundaries on design and cabin innovation, a key investment in its strategy," explains Michael Lau, A380 Industrial Designer in Hamburg. "Many of the innovations developed on the Emirates cabin were a first for Airbus, such as the first class showers, lighting scenarios and the recent premium economy cabin. Emirates has challenged us and given us confidence in our cabin expertise. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved together on this aircraft." 

 

Emirates' new A380 with premium economy seats

 

The premium economy cabin - positioned as middle-ground between economy and business class for comfort and amenities is available on Emirates' six newest A380s, and 52 of its 123 A380 will be retrofitted in the coming months to accommodate this new-generation premium class. This is another example of Airbus' ability to meet the most demanding cabin designs and Emirates' desire to offer passengers the most exclusive travel experience with the latest cabin standards. 

 

A new passenger experience

"While Emirates takes passenger comfort to the next level on the A380, the aircraft itself offers features that have transformed the passenger's idea of air travel. "The double deck fuselage, the cabin area and its technologies are unique. The A380 is particularly quiet, giving the feeling of calm to passengers onboard. This experience is shared by everyone, from passengers to pilots and crew. This has helped transform the attention that Airbus and the airlines now pay to passengers" explains Michael Lau. 

 

From the A380 to the A350, a transfer of innovation

The A380 is a pioneer in many respects. "The A380 has enabled the four Airbus countries to work together and adopt common development and industrialisation methods. Overcoming our historical national heritage has been a huge challenge that made Airbus the integrated company we currently know" says Bertrand George. 

 

The experience gained on the A380 has been used by the entire Airbus family, and especially on the A350 programme. For the first time, Airbus teams used a Digital Mock-Up (DMU) as a 3D representation of an aircraft. Moreover, the A380 enabled the introduction of new advanced materials such as carbon fibre reinforced plastics and Glare (glass fibres and aluminum), offering better properties against corrosion and fatigue, as well as weight reduction. New technologies were also implemented such as the zero-splice acoustic panel, which significantly reduces noise on the engine air inlets. The new hydraulic system (with a 5000 psi pressure and the 2H/2E systems architecture where the traditional three hydraulic circuits were replaced by two hydraulic and two electric systems), reduced weight, and improved system redundancy and reliability.

 

The A380 of tomorrow relies on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) 

The A380 MSN1 test campaign is on-going to improve in-flight systems and SAF capability of up to 100%. A much-awaited challenge for Emirates, which has already embarked on this path by operating the first A380 ferry flight from Germany to the United Arab Emirates fuelled with 10% of sustainable fuel.

 

Flying for decades to come

 Beyond this new collaboration with Emirates, Airbus is continuing to fully support all A380 operators and their fleets on over 70 destinations around the world. Since its entry into service in 2007, the iconic A380 has flown over 800,000 flights carrying more than 300 million passengers. 

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