1st Air France A380 Landing at Knock Ireland West airport for her retirement 

Real pity to see theses birds been retired😔

To short indeed. Never been on a 380, but I hear they are super comfortable.

@@KC-RallyPlanes You could barely hear the engines spooling up for takeoff and could hear people taking 10 rows away at full power. Then a minute after takeoff when they transitioned from takeoff / FLEX power and initial climb to normal power and climb you felt like the engines had been shut off. Only the sound of air friction against the aircraft and air conditioning was audible. That was almost scary! 😱 Then on Air France A380s on an overnight flight you would have simulated sunrise (sunset too on ultra long and oddly timed flights) to accommodate passengers to a new timezone and ease waking up or preparation to sleep. Also it was extremely stable thanks to the sheer size of the plane, even in thunderstorms you'd barely feel turbulences, way less than on smaller planes. The only "defects" I could see were (comparatively to the incredible silence) louder flaps actuators, louder "ding dong" chime during during day operations (maybe it was just relative to the silence) and the huge surface area of the wings gave the A380 a 'ground effect" lift when landing. The 777 also has this issue, resulting in the plane smashing the ground after a kiss landing when spoilers deployed. It's the "runway killer" style: extremely gentle touchdown then BANG! When spoilers kick in you feel like a dropped iron, crushing the suspension. Apart from this little exotic landing behavior shared with the 777 it was my favorite modern airliner. One little (not so secret) secret: the onboard computers managing the engines were tuned to slightly desynchronize engines from each others to avoid vibrations, frequency superposition and noise harmonics in the cabin. That's one of the reasons it was so silent, no buzzing sound or vibration that you usually hear on twin jets. They first implemented that feature on the A380. Felt like wearing a noise cancelling headset. I also had the chance to visit the factory in Toulouse, the building was impressively huge, we had to take an elevator to access the balcony / viewing gallery from the top of the hangar overlooking the assembly lines, like 11 stories high. There might still be visits as the assembly lines are supposed to be working till 2021. Have a look if it's still possible. In any way a visit of the Airbus plant is always interesting and the facilities are on Toulouse passenger airport, a quick taxi or transportation ride from the terminal so it's easily accessible for a day trip.

It’s a real pity to see these heading for the scrappers already

engineering department don't love it

John Paul Victor 😂😂

I know but unfortunately there will be a lot more planes that are been stored nowadays that may never fly again

12 year old is premature and just so shocking.

Only due to a lack of imagination. They need to turn it into a giant Guinness beer tanker with retractable beer taps and inflatable crash pads. Aviation reborn!

😂😂😂, beer taps 2 meters apart!!!

I know, hopefully some of the aircraft that are been retired nowadays because of the covid-19 situation, that some will make it back flying again

"biggest" indeed, "best", not by a long shot.

Thanks very much. I might take a trip down to Knock in a few weeks and see how the dismantling process is going on.

The 747 is being retired in the next year and hundreds are already grounded. the covid is the death of jumbos plus 4 engines are no longer financially viable......twin engined planes are the way to go.

Absolutely, apparently it has started to be dismantled. I will take a trip shortly to the airport to do another video update

Thank you, you’re welcome. I know, Knock above all places. You can get close to it from a little industrial area after the airport if you wanted to visit when the lockdown lifts. I’ve seen Concorde myself, years ago in Shannon. It was over doing training so seen it land a good few times. There was some noise out if it😁

@@KC-RallyPlanes I imagine that Knock Airport now feels like Father Ted's Mrs Doyle did when the tea-maker that she got for Christmas was 'retired'. Its just wonderful to see a small regional airport scooping the big ones. I really am sorry that I missed this. If I had known that it was coming I would have been there. I have never seen an A380 much less one here in Ireland. Do you know why it came to Knock and if possible can you post a link. Again thank you for a wonderful and very high quality video. I also saw Concorde in Shannon, Air France doing pilot training, they were doing 'touch and go' landings where the main landing gear would touch down on the runway but not the nose gear. The pilots would then light the afterburners (reheat for our Yank cousins) and take off again. I saw them doing three circuits before I had to leave. I stumbled into that by accident as I was passing the airport while working. Perhaps we were there together. And yes those Rolls Royce Olympus engines made some noise. Concorde made by the company now known as Airbus remains the greatest aeroplane ever made.

Sorry it’s not all the 380. Just the Ryanair and Aer Lingus we’re taking off before so decided to film them too👍🏻

Brilliant aeroplane, absolutely fantastic.

My aim was to fly on a 747 before they retire. Looks like I’ll have to change my aim to a 380 before they retire😂

No real second hand mark for this size of a plane. 40 year old plane such as the B737, B767, A310, B747’s and so on would have a big second had market so been used for a lot longer.

I know. Only after 10 years. Just to0 big of an aircraft. Never been lucky enough to travel on 1. Maybe some day before they are all retired

@@KC-RallyPlanes it's absolutely worth it. Just a different experience

Flow Rida someday I will😂

There was rumours last year about Emirates bringing 1 of their A380’s so the current runway can handle a A380, but I think it’s the taxi ways and air bridges that are the problem at Dub

Thanks very much. Pity about the windy day😱

Thank you. Pity about the wind noise😔. I suppose it’s just too big of an airplane for some airlines and no second hand market for them.

@@KC-RallyPlanes definitely👍

The economics of it just didn’t add up after the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 came along. Read more here: irishaviationresearchinstitute.blogspot.com/2020/02/first-air-france-airbus-a380-800.html?m=1

@@KC-RallyPlanes I would like to see how much it would cost to buy one of the First-Class Suite Apartments. It would be cool to have one.

As if they would last that long 😂

MarkLinWA 😂😂. Nice short trip to experience the A380

I would imagine so. A few near disasters, but not crashes

Yeah we want 737 max 8 back

daisy2121able cool, never got a chance to travel in a A380. Looks like I won’t get that chance in the future😢

Thank you. No, Longford. That’s why I didn’t get down to Knock to see it since Stephen’s day😬

A real shame but that’s business😔. Never have been lucky enough to fly on 1. Someday maybe😁

I could cross my legs in Air France economy, I'm 1m80 and that's the only plane where I could do that. I'll miss my trips to JFK on these A380s. It was sooooo comfy!

Cool, what route?

this is just so sad, so very sad, it has not even reached 40 years old, like many classics

Real pity to see this bird been retired back then but how the world has changed since. All the A380’s that are parked up, maybe to never fly again😔

Make a nice hotel😂

I would say Emirates might keep theirs a bit longer but I have a bad feeling that the current situation in the world, we might see the end of these big birds.

In pieces!

Thanks very much👍🏻

Thank you. Sad to see it go after only 10 years.

The cost of maintaining a few 380’s ie, parts, pilot’s on so on vs the newer twin engine, more fuel efficient jets. Air France/KLM ordered 10 A359’s to replace these with the potential to order more in years to come and common type rating for the pilots from the A330. So a bigger pool of pilots , instead of a small group of A380 pilots😔

😂

No. It is designed for existing runways.

Sure is, but it’s the norm nowadays with a lot of airliners retiring aircraft and maybe will never be brought back in service

doublemike as an aviation enthusiast it was a sad day seeing this plane land knowing it will never fly again. But in the space of a few weeks, there has been a lot more planes landing all over the world that I will never fly again. Who would have known back then the way the airline industry would have turned out today😔

propagandaaccount 10 years old. Just too costly to run with more fuel efficient twin engine jets on the market

Did the airports recoup their costs to renovate the terminals to accept the A380's? Now what do they do? Renovate again?

I’d imagine they would have made some money back over the years these airplanes have been flying with the extra passengers travelling through their airport and I’d say they will keep their A380 gates so hopefully when the aviation world starts again, the A380 will be back flying to their airports

When Air France made the decision to retire this aircraft there was no second hand market and no option to convert to cargo. Although I’ve read lately that( I think it was Lufthansa technical) are going to try and set up a conversation operation?

What do You mean by "no options" ?🙄 🙈 At this point of time there is n o o t h e r man made flying machine transporting t h a t much space like non armored freight around this planet at once at that low cost => gallon fuel per lbs freight + maintenance like an A380! 💪 None! ..period! Not even the extended 747/8! 😜 So if there's not something completely shattered on the structure = airframe i.e. wingbox below the cabin of this bird it has been imperative I.m?p.o.v. having it repurposed for good! Just imagine what a medevac transporter => flighing lazarette and freighter for humanitary goods t h i s size would be capable of ! 🤩 I mean environmental catastrophies actually are way more increasing than decreasing. N o idea what brain crumbled french fleet manager made this even econimical more as questionable decision to scrap such a multi purpose fully functional less than half serviced, most efficient airliner!💀

What I mean by “option” is, most other passenger planes, ie 747, 767, 757’s can be converter from passenger to cargo. Not so with the A380. OK, you can do what most other airlines are doing nowadays and place boxes with medical supplies on the passenger seats but there is no “option” to convert from passenger to all cargo A380. Plus, was fuel as low cost back when the decision to retire this aircraft as it is nowadays.

Exactly, as I’ve said in previous reply’s. It was the economics of the A380 vs newer fuel efficient planes

747-8 is a far better airplane.

And nicer to look at😂

@@carlrest6553 That's a question of taste. But as a passenger, the economy seats on an A380, especially on Air France were the best experience ever. The 747-8 felt just as cramped as the 747-4. I could cross my legs in AF's economy A380 seats. The roomy feeling and silence was incredible!

Thank very much, slow progress at the minute with subscribers but getting there slowly😂

done likewise and sad news on the A380

Much appreciated

Yes, it will be dismantled here

It’s completely gone now, there is some 320’s and 330’s there now for dismantling😩

I have 1 but in the rush to leave home, I forgot it. Don’t think a a wind sock/ dead Cat would have made much difference on that day, very windy🤨

There is a aircraft dismantling company in Knock. They either bought the plane or won a contact to dismantle it. Parts will be sent on for resale.

Money

It’s there to be dismantled/scrapped

@@KC-RallyPlanes Same question, why there ? Is there a market for second hand aircraft parts in the west of Ireland?

There is a company there, Eirtrade. Don’t know if they bought it or won a contract to dismantle it. Doesn’t matter where you are in world nowadays, Ireland or Australia, things can be moved about easy enough😁

This 1 was retired before the covid-19 pandemic because it was to costly. Between needing a cabin upgrade and aircraft checks it made more economical sense to retire it.

@@KC-RallyPlanes thank you.

A while yet. The last A380 to be built was driven through the town local to the Airbus factory. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-G0EXESFmKU8.html. Old video but this is how it’s done.

Suppose, when this was designed, Airbus where there high volumes, less frequency. Ideal for the likes of Heathrow where landing slots are not plentiful. Now with low fuel prices, and the efficient B787 and A350, these seem to be the planes of choice nowadays.

F-HPJB

At the time the decision was made to retire this aircraft, it was going to cost Air France to much to do a cabin upgrade, aircraft checks, so they decided to retire it. It only in the last few days have they made the decision to retire their whole A380 fleet. Looks like the B787 & A350 are the planes of choice nowadays.

Its the economics of flying vs scrapping it unfortunately😔

Tiarnan Glavin no secondary market and can’t be retrofitted for cargo. Basically an airplane that came 20 years to late.

That's weird surname Also a Glavin 😅

@@TheSjuris too late dope.

Would probably cost too much to convert them to cargo. Floors would need to be strengthened, cargo door fitted and I’m sure much more. There was a cargo version offered at the start but was discontinued early on

That’s a real pity😞

@@KC-RallyPlanes so many airline retire a380,such as Airfrance, Lufthansa,Hifly Malta,Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and now Malaysia Airlines

@@panzerkamfwagenausf.jagdpa9281 seems like only a few airlines will keep them for when things return to normal

It’s been scrapped unfortunately

I suspect it will be stored as Airbus in conjunction with Lufthansa technik are now offering cargo conversion kits for the A380

Baybee K it’s here to be scrapped and even if the company changed its mind, I think( not 100% sure) it would not be able to take of from Knock Ireland West airport with its short runway. Maybe if it was low on fuel it may be possible, maybe somebody with better knowledge than me will know?

Just an expensive plane to operate vs newer fuel efficient planes

Its never been designed with that in mind & cannot be converted to freight only.

Maybe so but apart from aviation enthusiast, would the A380 be any addition to Dub. The long haul aircraft the airlines use are perfect fit/size for Dub.

KC Videos. Common sense would say your probably right.

Very sad to see the plane heading for the scrape yard but that’s business I guess. When it’s not making money, time to get rid😔

More fuel efficient twin engine jets that burn less fuel is 1 of the reasons Air France are retiring these aircraft. Looks like the A380 has come to the end of the road,unfortunately😔

@@KC-RallyPlanes that's sad news really...i hoped to get on this plane once.

Be a great loss of life if 1 of these was to crash😔

@@KC-RallyPlanes , hope not, they manage to land/crash a A340 with no one dead. However they have crashed a A320, A330, A340 the Concord too much for a European Major Airline

@@pedrodeabreufreire1920 *Yeah, Air France seem to make a habit of having aircraft catch fire at CDG or crashing through bad pilots. There's still time for them to total an A380...*

F-HPJB

It was an expensive planes to operate vs newer more fuel efficient twin engine planes .

Ask Air France

To be scrapped/dismantled

No passengers and low fuel.

Fair enough just got me thinking cus I flew to knock from Manchester with Ryanair I think and as soon as we landed the brakes were applied but the a380 landed seeing is believing

Dom Elo I suppose these planes are designed to stop with a couple of hundred people onboard, luggage. Not sure if the seats were taken out while it was in Germany so the stopped power while empty would be enormous. I think the plan was for it to stop even before the exit and turn into a apron it’s self but some confusion with the pilot, he went passed it😩

Not so tiny, medium . 747 has operated from there.

Are they not trying to get rid of some of there A380’s. Better of let somebody else take the plane apart, and just buy the parts they need when they need them

Unfortunately it is😔

KC Videos oh no

At this moment it was sad to see it retired but even more sad nowadays to see all the aircraft been retired and knowing they will not fly again.

Company there that dismantles aircraft. Lots of small airport around the world that do this.

KC Videos good contract! Can’t wait to be stuck behind that engine on the N17 haha

Danny 😂

It is a good money earner -why not ?

The opposite- There is an aircraft dismantling company there.

I wonder would the cargo version have saved it. The 744 and 748 seem to be the right size for cargo operations

I thought it was more about the way the A380 was built that made it unsuitable for cargo not the size itself ie ratings, stress points etc

Reg regan airbus had a cargo A380 in it originally plans and had some orders but I think either UPS or Fedex pulled out as delays mounted up.

They offered a freighter version but with delays on the launch date airlines pulled their orders and Airbus discontinued the freighter

I know. Just to big of an aircraft. Only 10 years old. Singapore Airlines have already retired some of their A380’s. Not much of a A380 second hand market for these. It was even a surprise when HiFly took one for their operations

The economics of using such a big plane nowadays with sure fuel efficient twin engine planes. At least the spares will keep others A380’s flying for more years.

A real pity they are heading for the breakers. Emirates have some lovely suites, would love to get a chance to travel in one of them

Just using my iPhone and forgot my microphone. Knock Ireland West airport is on top of a hill and is very exposed. Also a very windy day😁

Authenticity

😁👍🏻

Are Emirates not retiring some of their A380 already?

To expensive to operate. As somebody committed down below. Air France could operate 2 A350’s with more people on board for less than 1 A380

Just too expensive to operate

So how the future of the a380?

Not good with the current situation around the world. Hopefully I’m wrong but seeing all the aircraft parked up all over the world, it’s not looking food for these large aircraft

Just too expensive to operate unfortunately😔

Haven’t traveled on either but I hear the A380 is a comfortable aircraft to fly on. Maybe it’s something to do with the size of it.

I know, lots more have been parked since this was retired but hopefully they will fly again not like this 1😔

It will be a sad day when that happens😔

No market for second hand A380. Airlines are considering retiring their older A380 so probably worth more in spares and scrap. At least the spares parts from this will keep other A380’s flying for longer.

Nobody wants them

😂😂

It wasn’t a regular passenger service. If this was full of passengers and luggage it might have got stopped on the runway but definitely wouldn’t be able to takeoff. Unfortunately it won’t be taking off again from here.

No better illustration of misplaced funding....

The landing, I’m sure there is other airports where you can get closer. The parking, behind a high fence. Good for the aviation enthusiast 😁

You've clearly not been to Knock then. Tall people can spin the plane's wheels as they are coming in to land!

@@johnmcgowan7954 I have! In 1982 when it was no more than bogland!

@@KM-mv3qr It's now basically bogland with a strip of concrete running through it!

@@johnmcgowan7954 Lol!

❓🤔

What are you talking about ? The A380 wasn’t even thought of in the 60’s !

Did it have the ability to time travel?

😂😂😂

So sad. Flew it with Qatar and Singapore airline and it it was just great.

Steinstra 1961 nothing to do with EU

Ade Reeves no it is highly recycleable

I don’t think Airbus would have imagined when designing the plane that it would only have this lifespan. Real pity😔

😱😱😁

It's the most comfortable economy seat I've ever traveled on! And Ive traveled some. Sad times I know

Pity to see them been scrapped only after 10 years

I won’t say good riddance. Definitely wrong plane at wrong time but as an aviation enthusiast I think it’s sad that any plane is scraped but I suppose airline companies are there to make money

Typical Yank comment. 😆😆

It’s a pity to see any plane been dismantled, no matter how it looks😁

Bet your American, don't worry 747's are being retired at a faster rate.

@@BarkingLondon Yes, since the 747 has been in service for 50 years, with more than 1500 deliveries, there are many being retired at the end of their useful lives.

@@BarkingLondon *you're

May be a short life but at least it didn’t kill anybody. Can’t say that about the Max in even a shorter time. But unfortunately I have to agree Boeing got it right pitching the Dreamliner against the 380 let’s hope they get it right with the 777X let’s face it they need to get some credibility back🇬🇧