Be the first to photograph the Airbus A380!

03/06/2007 12:28:12 AM · #1

On March 19th, Airbus will make it's U.S. debut at two airports, LAX (Los Angeles) and JFK (New York City).

Although I bummed that I won't be home (to go photograph it at LAX), I'm hoping some of you could do so. I'm a big airplane/aerospace nut and would like to see some independent photos of this brand new super-jumbo jet.

I found out about it in this news article.

I don't know how close they will allow the public, but it would be cool if someone got a closeup like I did with the "older" Airbus A320...

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

03/11/2007 11:41:42 PM · #2

So who's gonna get a chance to shot this thing?? (with a camera, of course)

asimchoudhri

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

03/13/2007 11:13:39 PM · #3

I won't be in either area on that date unfortunately, but I'd be curious to see it... especially since we probably won't see many for a couple years (maybe longer... :-)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/14/2007 07:56:05 PM · #4

Hi all,

Just in case you haven�t heard, the Airbus A380, which is the world�s largest commercial airliner that has not yet begun service, is making its inaugural landing in the United States on Monday (March 19) in a two-city, simultaneous landing in Los Angeles (LAX) and in New York (JKF).

Being a freelance photographer, I requested to be part of the media pool to photograph this historic event in Los Angeles. Well, I was approved and am now officially credentialed as part of the media pool. This allows me to be in the restricted areas of the airfield, along with the other media personnel in the media pool to photography this aircraft�s landing, taxiing, and (best of all) I also believe that we will also have access to photograph the interior of the aircraft. Way cool!

There is a ceremony that will take place when the plane arrives at the special area of the airport. The pilots will emerge from the plane onto the portable staircase where they will be greeted by several dignitaries such as L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa, the Airbus North America Chairman, a Quantas executive, and the LAX Executive Director. There will be a few short speeches before we are allowed onto the plane!

What is the Airbus A380?

Airbus press release

LA Times: Airbus to land world's largest plane in both L.A. and New York

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

03/14/2007 08:15:08 PM · #5

I don't want to burst any bubbles or anything, but my dad got a tour round one of their factories a few months back, and saw one, and snapped some pics for me.
So you won't be the first.

:p

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

03/14/2007 08:26:40 PM · #6

Also O'Hare on March 20, and Washington Dulles on March 25, for folks in those areas. Too bad it probably will not be possible to find out when the flights are scheduled in... would be great to get some pics in the landing approach.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

03/14/2007 08:51:12 PM · #7

I have always had a passion for aeronautics (aircraft) and would love for them to schedule a flight to Atlanta's Hartsfield International. I would have to make a trip to view and take pictures of that.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

03/15/2007 12:56:47 AM · #8

Originally posted by Ben:

I don't want to burst any bubbles or anything, but my dad got a tour round one of their factories a few months back, and saw one, and snapped some pics for me.
So you won't be the first.
:p

I'll be one of the first in the United States, though. :-D

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

03/15/2007 01:07:20 AM · #9

Originally posted by lesgainous:

Originally posted by Ben:
I don't want to burst any bubbles or anything, but my dad got a tour round one of their factories a few months back, and saw one, and snapped some pics for me.
So you won't be the first.
:p

I'll be one of the first in the United States, though. :-D

But not from the united states. Im sure the FAA has about 4,000 photos of it after having their own overseas check outs on the thing. But dunno i mean all the FAA really needs is a flight worthiness certificate. Im not sure if they require prior inspection of commercial aircraft or not.

Boeing fan not an airbus fan although boeing kinda got out of the bigger aircraft market. Ill still always have love for the aging 747.

Message edited by author 2007-03-15 01:09:55.

03/15/2007 11:36:03 AM · #10

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Originally posted by lesgainous:

Originally posted by Ben:
I don't want to burst any bubbles or anything, but my dad got a tour round one of their factories a few months back, and saw one, and snapped some pics for me.
So you won't be the first.
:p

I'll be one of the first in the United States, though. :-D

But not from the united states. Im sure the FAA has about 4,000 photos of it . . .
---- %< --- (snip) --- %< ----

The point of all my excitement is that it will be the first time an A-380 has landed on American "soil" (or tarmac). And, unlike what Ben saw, this will be an A-380 "out in the wild" for the first time in the U.S., not in captivity in some factory building. ;-)

Message edited by author 2007-03-15 11:38:58.

Voigtlander Ultron 21mm f1.8

03/15/2007 12:29:15 PM · #11

Originally posted by kirbic:

It's flying from JFK directly to ORD. So, if it is like the LAX plane, it may leave JFK on Tuesday. Once you hear the news of when it left, you could just wait a couple of hours and go to ORD and wait for it. However, since 9/11, hanging out at airport perimeters is usually not allowed.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

03/15/2007 01:15:44 PM · #12

Already got it, although admittedly it wasn't over American soil.

Sky wasn't too great, either.

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

03/15/2007 01:21:44 PM · #13

Originally posted by Mr_Pants:

Already got it, although admittedly it wasn't over American soil.

Sky wasn't too great, either.

Mind or you could get yourself shot....

EvanH

Canon EOS-20D

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Sigma

03/15/2007 01:27:07 PM · #14

my pop's is a captain for american. i guess if they purchase these jets he'd be transfering from the 777. he's pretty pscyhed.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

03/15/2007 02:18:21 PM · #15

Originally posted by Mr_Pants:

Already got it, although admittedly it wasn't over American soil.
Sky wasn't too great, either.

I think I'll end up taking more shots of the plane while it is on the ground. I also hope to take a bunch of photos of the interior of the plane, especially the cockpit. According to the "Media Pool" instructions I received, we are all going to board the aircraft to photograph the cabin and flight deck.

Ecce_Signum

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/15/2007 02:24:45 PM · #16

My big bruv was part of the team of wing designers - he has lots of piccies :)

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

03/15/2007 02:34:05 PM · #17

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Boeing fan not an airbus fan although boeing kinda got out of the bigger aircraft market. Ill still always have love for the aging 747.

Same here.

A380, while an engineering marvel, is going to be a flop.

FYI all new 747-8 is on the way. //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747-8

and this bird is pretty cool! //www.komotv.com/news/5192842.html

Message edited by author 2007-03-15 14:40:42.

RainMotorsports

Nikon D60

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

03/15/2007 06:34:45 PM · #18

Gracias LoudDog, glad to hear it it looks funky like that Russian plane but thats okay its a beautiful thing.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

03/18/2007 11:24:33 PM · #19

The hype is building!

LAX expects A380's arrival to be huge
With the jet due to land Monday, officials are bracing for crowds not seen since the Concorde's debut.

Excerpt:

"As it lumbers in for a landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday morning, the world's largest passenger jet will make its West Coast debut in what could be the biggest spectacle at the facility in more than three decades.

Officials expect thousands of onlookers to line airport fences to see the Airbus A380, an eight-story-high behemoth with a double-decked cabin and a wingspan nearly the length of a football field.

'We're planning for the largest turnout since the Concorde came in 1974," said Paul Haney, deputy executive director of airports and security for Los Angeles World Airports. "This could be huge, and we're doing everything possible to be ready.'" [read the complete article]

I'm glad I'll be "on the tarmac" with the media pool and not have to fight the crowds! he-he :-)

lynnesite

Canon EOS-1D X

03/18/2007 11:40:30 PM · #20

I'm in the approach flight path about 45 miles out, but they're usually still pretty high. I'll still be looking up around 9:00-9:15 though. Have a great time, Les.

Oh, and it's predicted to be foggy as hell tomorrow here, like this morning. So my shot at it is probably not gonna happen.

Message edited by author 2007-03-18 23:42:20.

super-dave

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

03/18/2007 11:47:27 PM · #21

seems there's already a few pics of it in action! :)

//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380

looks pretty good though ... and qantas has the 2nd biggest order of them. wow!! go qantas!! :)

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/19/2007 12:13:41 AM · #22

Originally posted by super-dave:

seems there's already a few pics of it in action! :)

Oh yeah, they've been test flying these birds for a while now in Europe and other places, but this will be the first time it has touched down on American soil--that's what all the hoopla is about.

wtlphotos

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/19/2007 03:29:03 PM · #23

HERE GO MY PICS on Flickr taken today at the JFK landing ...
what do you think ? It flew right over our heads !
A380_photo1
A380_photo2

03/19/2007 06:41:27 PM · #24

Alright! I'm back from the A-380 shoot in Los Angeles (LAX). I took about 2.75 gigabytes of images, so it'll take me awhile to post-process them. I'll post a teaser or two as I progress through them. I won't be able to work on these for a while...I'm boarding a plane to Chicago at the moment--of all things, it's an Airbus A-320. LOL! I�ll transfer them to my portable drive, before I fall asleep in the plane. It was a very long day.

My particular media pool didn't get to board the plane, but we did get to walk up to it to photograph it. It was a cool event, complete with champagne, breakfast, the works! We (the media/press) all received a nice commemorative ID badge and a glossy 8x10 of the plane. It was formal affair with many dignitaries, complete with a red carpet.

The aircraft itself was ginormous--8 stories tall, and was relatively quiet (quieter and more fuel efficient than the Boeing 747, according to the press material).

Stay tuned!. . .