For the aviation types - A380 taxi and take off

[TitanSound]

It's not really that exciting, but a 20 minute video of an A380 leaving Heathrow. I found myself watching it without getting bored. There is something totally awesome about that glass cockpit and being able to hear all the ATC chatter.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Want me to make you jealous?

For my birthday Frau Bahn has bought me a 1 hour flight in BA's 747 simulator. You get a 30 minute briefing, then you 'fly' the fucker for an hour, taxi, take off, fly, landing, taxi.

Proper looking forward to it!

 

[TitanSound]

That is fucking cool

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Tempted to wear an Allah Akbar t-shirt and say that I don't really need to know about the landing side of things.

 

[T & P]

After astronaut, jet pilot had always been what I wanted to be when I grew up. What went wrong?

Very cool video. I've never been on an A380 but the passenger cabin is said to be ultra quiet. I was surprised how noisy it seemed in the cockpit.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

After astronaut, jet pilot had always been what I wanted to be when I grew up. What went wrong?

Very cool video. I've never been on an A380 but the passenger cabin is said to be ultra quiet. I was surprised how noisy it seemed in the cockpit.

That was only on take off, when the engines were at full thrust.

A380 pilots moan that they can't sleep (they do have bunks behind the cockpit) cos the plane is so quiet the chattering passengers keep them awake!

And I've always fancied being a pilot, jetting round the world and shagging the stewardesses, but having spoken with a few, for most it seems it's fucking boring. I met one who flew for Cathay Pacific, being British they only ever used him Hong Hong to London, so every working day he would take off from Hong Kong, sit for 13 hours staring in to space, then land at Heathrow, 2 days later he'd go back again, and so forth. I'm sure some roles are better than that, but there seem to be a lot of boring jobs up the front of the plane.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It's not really that exciting, but a 20 minute video of an A380 leaving Heathrow. I found myself watching it without getting bored. There is something totally awesome about that glass cockpit and being able to hear all the ATC chatter.

Their windows look much cleaner and clearer than passenger windows.

I always take take off and landing videos

 

[Lancman]

I flew with the RAF for 28 years and then civilian for 14: flying for a major airline is mostly boring, but it pays well.
What you saw in that video was 2 consummate professionals in the calm setting of Heathrow air traffic controllers. It's not always like that for LoCo airline pilots working some of the popular summer destinations, frequently several sectors a day.

 

[bi0boy]

And I've always fancied being a pilot, jetting round the world and shagging the stewardesses, but having spoken with a few, for most it seems it's fucking boring. I met one who flew for Cathay Pacific, being British they only ever used him Hong Hong to London, so every working day he would take off from Hong Kong, sit for 13 hours staring in to space, then land at Heathrow, 2 days later he'd go back again, and so forth. I'm sure some roles are better than that, but there seem to be a lot of boring jobs up the front of the plane.

Most of them never tire of seeing the clouds from above and the sunrises and sunsets, and the million shades of blue of the firmament.

 

[Idaho]

I flew first class on a Singapore Airlines A380 from Sydney to Singapore. You get your own cabin. There was only one other person in first class, so the service was even more absurdly good.

Still boring though. I suppose it would have been fun if there was someone to share the experience with.

 

[bi0boy]

I bet you'd be bored if you flew to Mars.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I flew first class on a Singapore Airlines A380 from Sydney to Singapore. You get your own cabin. There was only one other person in first class, so the service was even more absurdly good.

Still boring though. I suppose it would have been fun if there was someone to share the experience with.

The middle row is a double bed, so you can bonk away. The window seats are single beds, so a solo wank is all that Singapore Airlines offer if you're sat there, cunts.

 

[T & P]

I guess short haul pilots, while earning less, get to see more scenery, and get to sleep at home every night. Still, to fly a big four-holer like the A380 must be amazing.

 

[T & P]

The middle row is a double bed, so you can bonk away. The window seats are single beds, so a solo wank is all that Singapore Airlines offer if you're sat there, cunts.

Provided he still gets them (there were rumours he might cancel the order) I look forward to seeing what Richard Branson plans to do with his. Virgin has already said joining the mile high club aboard their A380s will be fine and dandy...

 

[DownwardDog]

And I've always fancied being a pilot, jetting round the world and shagging the stewardesses, but having spoken with a few, for most it seems it's fucking boring. I met one who flew for Cathay Pacific, being British they only ever used him Hong Hong to London, so every working day he would take off from Hong Kong, sit for 13 hours staring in to space, then land at Heathrow, 2 days later he'd go back again, and so forth. I'm sure some roles are better than that, but there seem to be a lot of boring jobs up the front of the plane.

My first job in commercial aviation was with Cathay Pacific Cargo; all I ever seemed to do was Hong Kong - Los Angeles. The westbound return trip was a particular joy, often with 15+ hour sector times. We used to walk off the flightdeck like that QWOP guy. Then I moved to a different cargo operator in the Middle East and flew shorter sectors which was better - Beirut is a superior night stop to El Segundo. It can be boring but it's still loads better than doing a shitty office job I reckon. I only did it (commercial aviation) for about 3.5 years because I very much wanted to experience the terrifying lows, dizzying highs and creamy middles of running my own aviation business.

 

[RaverDrew]

plane takes off

 

[Idaho]

I bet you'd be bored if you flew to Mars.

It's just sitting or lying on a comfy chair on your own, watching tv and eating food. That's all very well, but I would never do that all day at home. As plush as it was, it was boring after 3 hours. I've decided the best way to fly long haul is a flat business class bed overnight with 10mg of Diazipam. Have a good night's sleep, get on with your day at the other end.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Want me to make you jealous?

For my birthday Frau Bahn has bought me a 1 hour flight in BA's 747 simulator. You get a 30 minute briefing, then you 'fly' the fucker for an hour, taxi, take off, fly, landing, taxi.

Proper looking forward to it!

I'm going to have to check and see if there's something similar offered at our airport.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

but having spoken with a few, for most it seems it's fucking boring..

Basically, it's driving a bus.... in the air.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I'm going to have to check and see if there's something similar offered at our airport.

It ain't cheap: http://www.ebaft.com/fly/fse.htm#MakeaBooking

But I reckon it'll be worth it.

I was once lucky enough to sit in the jump seat in the cockpit of a Lufthansa plane from Hanover to Heathrow, that was proper enjoyable, so doing the flying (even virtually) should be

 

[Quartz]

For my birthday Frau Bahn has bought me a 1 hour flight in BA's 747 simulator. You get a 30 minute briefing, then you 'fly' the fucker for an hour, taxi, take off, fly, landing, taxi.

A friend went on one of these. Top tip: practice at home first. I presume you've got MS Flight Sim and a decent HOTAS?

 

[T & P]

You should totally try to do a barrel roll. What's the worst that could happen?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

A friend went on one of these. Top tip: practice at home first. I presume you've got MS Flight Sim and a decent HOTAS?

Nah, had a flight sim years ago, fucking boring.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

You should totally try to do a barrel roll. What's the worst that could happen?

You know it!

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

It ain't cheap: http://www.ebaft.com/fly/fse.htm#MakeaBooking

But I reckon it'll be worth it.

I was once lucky enough to sit in the jump seat in the cockpit of a Lufthansa plane from Hanover to Heathrow, that was proper enjoyable, so doing the flying (even virtually) should be

Thanks. I'd love to do that. I've flown a small four seater plane: I can only imagine flying something so massive that your seat is 3 storeys off the ground.

 

[kwaimaisabai]

there seem to be a lot of boring jobs up the front of the plane.

My heart bleeds. Have they considered what it's like for the poor fuckers sat in cattle class in the back?

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I actually watched this last night. Fuck knows why

 

[gosub]

My heart bleeds. Have they considered what it's like for the poor fuckers sat in cattle class in the back?

Wot where you can drink and have access to multi million pound entertainment systems, while at the pointy end automated systems have largely reduced pilots to a checksum

 

[gosub]

I guess short haul pilots, while earning less, get to see more scenery, and get to sleep at home every night. Still, to fly a big four-holer like the A380 must be amazing.

Where as private jet pilots earn more and depending who they work for, have a better variety of destinations. Taxi over bus any day.

 

[Quartz]

while at the pointy end automated systems have largely reduced pilots to a checksum

Except when things go wrong. I think it takes a lot more talent to save an aircraft in trouble than a car in trouble (q.v. Capt. Sullenberger).

I'd love to learn to fly.