My flight today from Singapore to London took place on one of the new Airbus A380 superplanes. I wasn’t fortunate enough to sit on the upper deck, where business and first class resides, along with a few rows of economy. My deck did feature the personal suites, but I had to make due with the lower tier’s sixty-some rows of economy arranged 3-4-3 across. Fortunately, the sheer size of the aircraft lets everyone stretch out, even with ten seats across the body of the jet. Even better, a new jet means all the fixtures are clean and shiny: fresh upholstery, the latest seat-back televisions, and grime-free paneling.
My seat overlooked the starboard wing. When the plane rests on the tarmac the stupendously long appendages bend down so dramatically under their own weight that the foil fins atop the wingtips almost disappear under a titanium horizon. Once in flight, the wings’ aerodynamics create the forces and the lift needed to produce an unbroken, rigid sight-line. It’s fabulous engineering, but a slightly unnerving spectacle.
Home counties for the rest of the week. Back to New York on Friday with H.
My seat overlooked the starboard wing. When the plane rests on the tarmac the stupendously long appendages bend down so dramatically under their own weight that the foil fins atop the wingtips almost disappear under a titanium horizon. Once in flight, the wings’ aerodynamics create the forces and the lift needed to produce an unbroken, rigid sight-line. It’s fabulous engineering, but a slightly unnerving spectacle.
Home counties for the rest of the week. Back to New York on Friday with H.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment