BHX A380 Visit

[Kevin Farnell]

Had a long day out yesterday to see the A380 at Birmingham, I left home at 6am and arrive at BHX (EGBB) at 8. As Birmingham was the airport where I spent far too much time watching aeroplanes this made the A380 visit and BHX's 70th Birthday quite special to me.
Below are some of my shots of the A380, plus a few of other visitors.

None of the following photos have been cropped, just worked from '.NEF' raw files to JPEG's.

A380 on Finals...










Taxiing to stand on the new Interational Pier...


On stand on the new International Pier...


Departing Runway 15, with a tail wind - amazingly, it only requried just over half of the runway length...


Take off...




Couldn't fit it all in...


KLM used their 'Retrojet' B737-800 on one of their services, in honour of BHX's 70th Birthday celebrations...


As did Lufthansa with their Airbus A321...


Finally, a lovely aircraft to see, but the reason for it's frequent visits are very sad...


I had a great day out, re-living one of my favourite pass-times from the past.
I arrived home at around 8pm, having picked up pie & chips from the chippie.
A couple of cold beers rounded off a perfect day.

Regards

Kevin

[Garry Russell]

Cheers Kevin

Shows how the wing bogies leave the ground before the wing sets

As to retro liveries..if they can't so them properly...they should have polished metal bottoms, an important part of those liveries....then forget it

Garry

[DispatchDragon]

At least LH made the effort to polish the belly...... And BOY the 380 is ugly

Leif

[TSR2]

Looks like a successful trip Kevin

Personally I don't mind the retro jets, anything that makes the scarebus and boeing bordum look a wee bit different is to be welcomed

[Garry Russell]

I like the idea of retro liveries but if it gdoesn't have the Polished metal than it is not done properly and not truly retro

I think the Eagle DC 6 mlooks all wrong

Garry

[Kevin Farnell]

Hi Garry

The reason for the 'retrojets' having grey fuselage undersides is down to the anti-corrosion coatings applied by the maufacturers. Without this, the manufactureres won't guarantee the aircraft. This was the reason the American Airlines A300's appeared with grey fuselages. I suppose painting them silver would be the best compromise.
I'm not sure why the Eagle DC-6 doesn't have bare metal, though. Perhaps the polished metal finish is very expensive.

Regards

Kevin

[Garry Russell]

Hi Kevin

Yep.,,,I know why ,,,,,,,and the modern aircraft are treated before assembly.....the reason BUA One-Elevens and BOAC VC 10 had grey bottoms instead of the contemporay polished of those arlines.

The last Lufthansa livery with before the white body looked so smart on the Boeing 727 and 737 which had the polished bottoms and awlful on the Airbusses that had grey.

Silver is no compromise as it is not even close to the natural metal colour......why not cover them in tinfoil like certain areas of the AA One-Elevens or is that too heavy?

But i stilI say if it can't be done properly.....then don't

The polished metal was a part of the livery so you can't call it the retro livery if it's not there.

Garry

[jab]

Nice shots Kevin Still waiting to see the A380 at Manston

Does anyone know if BA will do a Retro livery

ATB
JAmes

[Kevin Farnell]

Not sure BA could afford the paint at the moment, James
If they could, what would you like - an A380 (when it arrives) in BOAC cheatline and tail, with British Airways titles?

Regards

Kevin