An American in Paris Edition
This long overdue update covers the last two months of A380 production. The update covers a lot of ground including two deliveries, many new first flights and several new convoys of structural sections in Toulouse. As always, these updates depend on input and information from you. If I've missed anything here or anything incorrect here please let me know.
The A380 production has a large question mark hanging over it currently as the delivery schedule for 2009 is being reviewed by Airbus. Once this new schedule is announced, it will provide a good guide for watching the production process unfold.
The A380 production updates have been more infrequent with the quickening pace of production, as well as the large volume of information to manage. Between updates, which should be monthly now (or close to), the wikipedia user generated production list is a good interim resource, though should never be taken as 100% fact, just a good framework to work from.
Image Credit David Barrie
DELIVERIES
MSN006 - Singapore Airlines - 9V-SKC
9V-SKC was delivered to SIA on March 11, 2008. The 3rd A380 delivered allowed Singapore AIrlines to begin its second service from Singapore to London.
MSN008 - Singapore Airlines - 9V-SKD
Airbus delivered its 4th A380 on April 26, 2008. 9V-SKD will be used between Tokyo and Singapore later this month.
FLIGHT TESTING
MSN011 - Emirates - D-AXAA - A6-EDA
Emirates first A380 was unveiled in full colors on April 3, 2008. The registration was changed from French F-WWSH to German D-AXAA while in Hamburg for interior fitting. The aircraft will be delivered with 489 seats on board.
MSN012 - Singapore Airlines - F-WWSI - 9V-SKF
SIA's 6th A380 flew for the first time on February 20, 2008. It departed TLS for XFW on February 22, 2008.
MSN013 - Emirates - F-WWSJ - A6-EDB
F-WWSJ, the 2nd A380 for Emirates, conducted its first taxi tests on March 31, 2008, followed by its first flight April 2 and ferry flight to XFW on April 4. Spotters remarked that it was the first time an A380 had completed its first engine run, rejected take off test, first flight and ferry flight all in a Monday-Friday span.
MSN014 - QANTAS - F-WWSK - VH-OQA
The first QANTAS A380 has completed cabin outfitting and will be moved to the paint shop to receive full the airlines new colors later this month in Hamburg.
PRODUCTION UPDATE CONTINUED BELOW
PRODUCTION
MSN015 - QANTAS - F-WWSL - VH-OQB
QANTAS' 2nd A380 was spotted with its engines installed on April 16, 2008 preparing for its first flight. It is expected to be the 15th A380 to fly. To date, 14 A380s have flown.
MSN017 - Emirates - F-WWSN - A6-EDD
Emirates 4th A380 was spotted most recently outside in Toulouse on April 9, 2008
MSN019 - Singapore Airlines - F-WWSP - 9V-SKG
SIA's 7th A380 was spotted outside for continuing assembly operations. The engines had not yet been installed as of April 9, 2008. The aircraft was spotted in the hangar back in mid-February as well.
MSN021 - Singapore Airlines - F-WWSR - 9V-SKH
Singapore Airlines 8th A380 was seen being towed between assembly buildings at Toulouse on March 4, 2008.
MSN022 - QANTAS - F-WWSS - VH-OQC
The third A380 for QANTAS was spotted outside at TLS during its assembly process. The aircraft is expected to be delivered in November 2008.
MSN025- Emirates - F-WWSV - A6-EDG
Structures arrived in the largest A380 convoy to date, along with parts of MSN035. MSN025 will become A6-EDG an Emirates A380 and is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2009.
MSN026 - QANTAS - F-WWSX - VH-OQD
The first of the 2nd Wave A380s was powered up in late April for the first time, roughly four months later than initially planned. It was spotted on March 17 being towed from Hall 31 to Hall 30D.
MSN029 - QANTAS - F-WWSZ - VH-OQF
Structural sections for QANTAS' 6th A380 were delivered to Toulouse in January 2008 and are currently undergoing assembly. This aircraft is expected to be delivered in the 3Q of 2009, though a new delivery schedule may delay the entry into service of this A380.
MSN033 - Air France - F-HPJA
The first Air France A380 was seen outside sporting a painted tail in early February 2008.
MSN034 - Singapore Airlines - 9V-SKI
A380 nose and center fuselage sections for a future Singapore Airlines superjumbo, arrived in a convoy in Toulouse on April 23, 2008.
MSN040 - Air France - F-HPJB
Major structural assemblies arrived in Toulouse in a convoy on February 28, 2008 for the second A380 for Air France.
Great update Jon,
Let's hope Singapore Airlines get their A380s as soon as possible!
Why are they out of sequence?
Thank you for the updates, I'd been waiting for ages for these. Qantas was going to get four A380s (MSN 014, 015, 022, and 026) by the end of this year, but they now say that Qantas will get only three this year. The fourth one, MSN026 will not be delivered until early 2009. The ramp-up production at Airbus is going a bit slower than they want.
By the way, there were pics of the interior of the Qantas's A380 (MSN014) in a newspaper yesterday, it did show the First Class, Business Class and Economy Class...
Thank you, Jon for the updates.
Thank You Jon for the updates.
What about MSN016 for Emirates? Should come before MSN017 and is due for delivery in Oct-08.
What is the status of this bird?
Regards,
As far as MSN016 goes, I couldn't locate an information that provided an updated assessment of the status of assembly. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a better idea of where things stand this week. If I get more information, I will absolutely be posting it.
Jon
Hi Jon :
Great update !
So Airbus has 14 380's flying and 4 delivered. That means 10 flying aircraft are hanging around waiting for their seats to be installed. (I know, simplistic perspective). But really, that's almost an entire year of production waiting around for paint and seats ? Is Airbus that disorganised to have that much non-producing capital sitting on the ramp ? Given this state of affairs, who was surprised at the recent delays ?
I'm so glad I don't own any EADS shares.
Jon,
great work, thanks for that.
If this is really MSN 016 she was fitted with engines late March:
http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,8137
All the best
Thomas N. Olesen
Don't forget that 018, which was going to be the first for Malaysia, has now been renumbered as 045 for Singapore.
Hi all. Picture here of MSN027: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,12102
Photo of MSN009 F-WWEA with all 4 engines removed: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,12105 . Photo of MSN016 F-WWSM EK taxi under own power on 21/05/08: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,12108
MSN016 - First flight carried out on 28/05/08. Photo here:http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,12699
Found this link to a German website: http://www.aviation-community.de/forum-nord/viewtopic.php?p=40203&sid=f780bfcdb955bbb378df29ad8f2bd598 Used a translator & from what I can gather MSN016 was delivered from TLS to XFW on 30/05/08 as AIB026B landing at 1510 local time on runway 05. There is also a photo on the above link.
Follow this link for http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/gallery/0,22010,5031631-5006020-1,00.html two pictures of fully painted Qantas A380 plus 9 other photos. And yes I know the first picture is already known about.
Photo of MSN010 in full SIA Colours at XFW:
http://img5.myimg.de/a38045ec6.jpg
Three more photos of MSN 011 in full EK colours at XFW:
http://www.photo-design-box.de/pics-ap-hh/IMG_1152.jpg
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/47577/1902322/sizes/o
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/47577/1902321/sizes/o
EK says in statement to Reuters that it expects to take delivery of its first A380 by 28th July 2008. Story here: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL0560660920080605
AMEinfo states A380 to be delivered to EK on 28th July 2008: http://www.ameinfo.com/159336.html
D-AXAA A380-861 MSN011for EK carried out taxi test & RTO at XFW on 7th June 2008. Photos here:
http://img7.myimg.de/ds07062008012001cf267.jpg
http://img7.myimg.de/ds07062008032001444c2.jpg
http://img7.myimg.de/ds070620080370017172d.jpg
http://img7.myimg.de/ds070620080770019dfdb.jpg
http://img7.myimg.de/ds07062008102001ec189.jpg
http://img7.myimg.de/ds070620081150012e5a6.jpg
F-WWSG A380-841 MSN010 (9V-SKE)for SIA carried out taxi tests, plus an RTO today post out fitting & painting at XFW. Would expect it to return to TLS this week. Photo here: http://img7.myimg.de/ds09062008008001c1206.jpg
F-WWSG A380-841 MSN010 (9V-SKE)for SIA carried out a test flight at XFW this afternoon at 16:30. I do not know if the a/c returned to XFW. D-AXAA A380-861 MSN011 for EK carried out two RTO's at 19:00 this evening. Photos here:
http://img7.myimg.de/ds10062008032001d7e02.jpg
http://img7.myimg.de/ds1006200815200182fc4.jpg
Update to the above:- F-WWSG A380-841 MSN010 (9V-SKE)for SIA returned to XFW from a test flight at 21:45 tonight.
MSN007 A380-841 F-WWJB - Has anyone seen or got any news on the status of this a/c?????
D-AXAA A380-861 MSN011 for EK carried out its post interior fit test flight today at XFW. Photo here: http://img8.myimg.de/ds120620080388124c.jpg
MSN020 - Reg confirmed as F-WWSS, a/c is for EK & has had its engines fitted: Photo here: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,14256 MSN022 Reg is incorrect in the production listing. Also another photo of MSN021 for SIA here: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,14255
MSN015 F-WWSL for QF seen taxi-ing around TLS under its own power today.: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,14741
Hi, Can anyone tell me where the convoys "day-stop" .. i am down that part of France in July/August, and was hoping to catch one..
cheers
Simon
Simon.. Lots of info can be found here: http://www.igg.fr/ Only one down side is the website is in French. Hope this helps.
MSN022 F-WWSR for QF, seen with engines fitted on 20 June 08. Photo here: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,14823
MSN010 F-WWSG for SIA returned to TLS late 14 June 08. Photo here: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,14937 (Photo taken 21 June 08)
Hi, thanks for this, yes had already seen this site before, and have emailed a few contacts from it, but never got anything back ... i have even , tried to trace the route via google earth .. and pretty sure have found the stop-over sites .. but was just after clarification ... hopefully there will be a convoy when i am down there.
cheers again
Simon
I would presume that MSN015 has had its first flight at TLS as it landed at XFW on runway 23 at 16:30 hrs local time, 25 June 08. (50 minutes ago). Photos here:
http://img10.myimg.de/ds25062008020001246cc.jpg
http://img10.myimg.de/ds2506200802300126ba4.jpg
Hi All
For those who are un-aware, Airbus has stated that "Hamburg will carry out the complete interior furnishing of the A380 cabins and painting of the aircraft. In addition, final acceptance and delivery of A380s to customers in Europe and the Middle East takes place in Hamburg." The paragraph can be found on Airbus website at: http://www.airbus.com/en/worldwide/airbus_in_germany.html
This means that all a/c for Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa, Qatar & Virgin Atlantic will be given German test registrations post interior fitting & painting, prior to delivery direct from XFW.
Only a/c for China Southern, ILFC, Kingfisher, Korean Airlines, Malaysia Airlines,
Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines & Thai Airways will return to TLS for delivery.
Just noticed that the RAT was deployed on MSN015 when it landed at XFW yesterday. Photo here: http://img10.myimg.de/dsPublikation1671f3.jpg
MSN010 carried out an SIA acceptance flight yesterday. My contact at TLS tells me that the a/c could be handed over to SIA as early as tomorrow.
MSN015: A photo of F-WWSL taking off from TLS is here: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,15444 - I do not know if this was the a/c's first flight.
A third photo of MSN015 approaching XFW is here: http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5372/img1712hg7.jpg - Had a quick look to see if the RAT was deployed in this photo. I could see a black speck above the port fwd wing u/c, but cannot confirm its the RAT.
MSN010 - Handed over to SIA as 9V-SKE 28/29 June 08 (Can anyone confirm this date?). Ferried TLS to SIN. Dept 0800 Arr 0300 Flt No. SQ380. Info from http://www.aviation-community.de/forum-nord/viewtopic.php?t=3865
Photo of MSN010 as 9V-SKE on approach to LHR here: http://planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=750958
Next to fly will be MSN020 F-WWSS A380-861 for EK. Seen moving around TLS under own power. Photo Here: http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,16551
MSN020 - F-WWSS A380-861 for EK
First flight carried out today at TLS. Photos here:
http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,17268
http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,17292
http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,17274
MSN020 F-WWSS A380-861 for EK arrived at XFW from TLS at 20:53 local time. Photo here: http://img12.myimg.de/ds16072008017001df462.jpg
Hi Jon
Re-posted yesterdays entry I made as it does not appear to have gone through:
15th July 2008:
MSN020 F-WWSS had its first flight today at TLS, buts its tx to XFW was cancelled due to weather.
Photos here:
http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,17268
http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,17292
http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,17274
RE: Convoys ......
Can anyone tell me if they "store" the fuselage parts at Langon, until they are ready for a convoy ... or do the parts arrive in Langon , and then move on the same/next night ???
there are no convoys due ....according to the website....
just wondered as i am down that part of France in the next 2 weeks.,
cheers
Simon
First photo of MSN014 outside at Hamburg on 22nd July 08 here: http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3369/qantasa380pict0002bs800gd5.jpg