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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| A380 makes first passenger flight | A380 makes first passenger flight |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, has taken off on its first commercial flight - from Singapore to Sydney, Australia. | The world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, has taken off on its first commercial flight - from Singapore to Sydney, Australia. |
| Singapore Airlines took delivery of the huge plane dubbed the Superjumbo just over a week ago and passengers bought seats in a charity online auction. | Singapore Airlines took delivery of the huge plane dubbed the Superjumbo just over a week ago and passengers bought seats in a charity online auction. |
| It can carry some 850 passengers but is carrying about 450 to Sydney. | It can carry some 850 passengers but is carrying about 450 to Sydney. |
| The Superjumbo's advent ends a reign of nearly four decades by the Boeing 747 as the world's biggest airliner. | The Superjumbo's advent ends a reign of nearly four decades by the Boeing 747 as the world's biggest airliner. |
| The new aircraft suffered almost two years of delays because of a number of construction problems but took off on time. | |
| The BBC's Rajan Datar reports from aboard the plane that the journey is going smoothly. | The BBC's Rajan Datar reports from aboard the plane that the journey is going smoothly. |
| 'Part of history' | 'Part of history' |
| Hundreds of staff and passengers at Singapore's Changi Airport watched it lift into the sky, snapping the moment with pocket cameras and camera phones. | Hundreds of staff and passengers at Singapore's Changi Airport watched it lift into the sky, snapping the moment with pocket cameras and camera phones. |
| "I'm a big airplane freak and I love everything about planes," passenger Ernest Graaff told Reuters news agency before he boarded the liner. | "I'm a big airplane freak and I love everything about planes," passenger Ernest Graaff told Reuters news agency before he boarded the liner. |
| He had paid $40,000 for two business-class tickets on the jet. | He had paid $40,000 for two business-class tickets on the jet. |
| "I'm excited about being a part of history," he added before the seven-hour flight. | "I'm excited about being a part of history," he added before the seven-hour flight. |
| Passengers paid between $560 and $100,380 to be on the inaugural flight, Reuters notes. | Passengers paid between $560 and $100,380 to be on the inaugural flight, Reuters notes. |
| Australian welcome | Australian welcome |
| Sydney Airport has had to make modifications to fit the giant plane, the BBC's Nick Bryant reports from the city. | Sydney Airport has had to make modifications to fit the giant plane, the BBC's Nick Bryant reports from the city. |
| Two 20th-Century design icons - Sydney's Opera House and its Harbour Bridge - will form the backdrop for what the Airbus consortium hopes will become an emblem of the 21st. | Two 20th-Century design icons - Sydney's Opera House and its Harbour Bridge - will form the backdrop for what the Airbus consortium hopes will become an emblem of the 21st. |
| With the Superjumbo's wing span almost the size of a football pitch, the airport has spent millions to accommodate the new plane. | With the Superjumbo's wing span almost the size of a football pitch, the airport has spent millions to accommodate the new plane. |
| To cope with the two decks of seating, it has had to construct new aero bridges. | To cope with the two decks of seating, it has had to construct new aero bridges. |
| It has also had to realign one of the taxi ways and strengthen a tunnel which runs underneath the main runway. | It has also had to realign one of the taxi ways and strengthen a tunnel which runs underneath the main runway. |
| Did you see someone off in Singapore? Are you waiting for the plane in Sydney? Send us your comments using the form below. | |
| We will be going out to watch the plane when it does a circle around Sydney prior to landing. There are, however, low clouds and continual rain showers in Sydney today so the visibility may not be too good. The plane is due to do a fly-over at 4.45pm Sydney time (7.45am UK time). May then wander down to Sydney Harbour to see the "Sea Princess" - the World's largest Passenger Liner which arrived yesterday, clearing the Sydney Harbour Bridge by less than 2 metres.Dave King, Sydney, Australia | |
| I was at the airport to send my boyfriend off, & on the way to the airport I was watching the morning news on the bus, & this reporter was interviewing passengers boarding the big flight. "Wow," I thought. I guess it took awhile to put 2 & 2 together & realize that I'd be at the airport at the same time SQ380 was to take off for Sydney at 8am. I was standing there staring at the departure flights screen, when I saw the listing for SQ380, & next thing I was pulling my boyfriend's hand & hurrying to the viewing gallery (even though he wanted coffee so badly), & we saw that the A380 had already been pushed back, so we got to watch it moving off, & a few minutes later it was rolling down the runway taking off, along with sounds of a few dozen [digitally-produced] shutter clicks all around us. "Wow," I said. Alas, we didn't see the plane actually taking to the air, though.Sean, Singapore | |
| Very low clouds in Sydney today and the planned fly past down the harbour and then banking left over the city down to the airport now doesn't look as likely. Hopefully they lift and we can see the beast of the sky come in from the office or at Circular Quay with a beer! Otherwise it'll come in from the south and over Botany Bay and the industrial works!James, Sydney, Australia | Very low clouds in Sydney today and the planned fly past down the harbour and then banking left over the city down to the airport now doesn't look as likely. Hopefully they lift and we can see the beast of the sky come in from the office or at Circular Quay with a beer! Otherwise it'll come in from the south and over Botany Bay and the industrial works!James, Sydney, Australia |
| ...I suspect its going to be a bit of a fizzer as there is low cloud and pouring rain!Chas, Sydney | ...I suspect its going to be a bit of a fizzer as there is low cloud and pouring rain!Chas, Sydney |
| I envy the first pax. In 1963 I flew Singapore to Brisbane in a Comet 4, I think it was, such a steep takeoff, and such power, in those days!! The thrill has become less of, but I remember it well!! Bill Luff, retired Royal Navy. william f luff, Lake Charles, LA, USA | I envy the first pax. In 1963 I flew Singapore to Brisbane in a Comet 4, I think it was, such a steep takeoff, and such power, in those days!! The thrill has become less of, but I remember it well!! Bill Luff, retired Royal Navy. william f luff, Lake Charles, LA, USA |
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