SQ A330 First test flight

[banx007]

Singapore first A330, 9V-STA just arrived at Singapore Changi Airport this morning at 0500hrs.

[StarG]

Singapore first A330, 9V-STA just arrived at Singapore Changi Airport this morning at 0500hrs.

So, no commercial flights for this aircraft for the next two weeks?

[boing]

Yup. Saw it parked at bay 601 in the afternoon wif maint staff and two vans full of management guys. Think was to be towed to the hangar.

[milehighj]

I saw 9V-STA take-off on 02C today around 0730hrs.

[Kyo]

I must admit to not being much of an airplane-spotter, but as I landed back in SIN on SQ975 (ex BKK) at 4:21PM today barely over an hour ago, I noticed a fine-looking bird taking off on the runway next to me (as you can see, SASCO in the background) - this picture is thus dedicated to Laurent (SQ333), who has provided us with all the Toulouse pics so far.

I do believe this might be the first 9V-STA picture anyone's posted since arrival in Changi, so please feel free to whet your appetite further and enjoy in high-resolution (sorry for the bandwidth-challenged, I normally would only upload in 640x480)... looking forward to see the first few in-flight pics!

Pic:



Also, the IFS said his pilot friends were taking her for a few (test) runs...

If anyone would like the 4,000 x 3,000 12.1 Megapixel original version, feel free to PM a request (sorry, no FTP)..

Boy, ain't she beautiful!!

[UMD]

She is indeed a beauty. I think 330 is the best looking SQ aircraft around.

[flyguy]

yes it is indeed a good looking aircraft - but it would be good if it could handle turbulence better.

[SQ LPP]

...- but it would be good if it could handle turbulence better.

Why do you say that? By making that statement, I believe you have been onn that particular plane 9V-STA too many times.

[milehighj]

She is indeed a beauty. I think 330 is the best looking SQ aircraft around.

I think this airframe looks better with 4 engines, so my vote goes to the A340-500.

[flyguy]

The composite materials used to build the wings on the Airbus 330/340 have the advantage of reducing the basic weight of the airplanes. The minus point is that the wings are now more flexible, causing them to flex more than a Boeing 777. Result? Any turbulence felt
becomes more pronounced. The Baron and Cessna comparison you mentioned - wing flexing more makes turbulence less jarring - is an interesting theory. If you have not flown on both the airplanes, you should ask those who have experienced the differences or check it out yourself.
If you have travelled on the A330s with regional carriers like MH, TG, CX or CI - and flying through some clouds, one would feel the difference - as compared to say, the 777 or 747.

[zvezda]

The composite materials used to build the wings on the Airbus 330/340 have the advantage of reducing the basic weight of the airplanes.

Sorry, but the A330 has aluminium wings. The first airliner to have mostly composite wings is the 787 -- and even there some parts are aluminium.

The minus point is that the wings are now more flexible, causing them to flex more than a Boeing 777.

Composite wings are not inherently more flexible than aluminium wings. In fact, the opposite is true. The reason why the 787 wings are more flexible than those of earlier aircraft is that they are longer and thinner.

Result? Any turbulence felt becomes more pronounced.

More flexible wings would not give turbulence a more pronounced feel. Quite the opposite, wing flex dampens turbulence felt in the aircraft.

The Baron and Cessna comparison you mentioned - wing flexing more makes turbulence less jarring - is an interesting theory. If you have not flown on both the airplanes, you should ask those who have experienced the differences or check it out yourself.
If you have travelled on the A330s with regional carriers like MH, TG, CX or CI - and flying through some clouds, one would feel the difference - as compared to say, the 777 or 747.

The reason why one feels less turbulence on a 777 than on an A330 is that the 777's fly-by-wire system has more sophisticated software to compensate during turbulence. The greater mass of the 777 helps too. The A350 and 787 will be even better anti-turbulence software. The reason why one feels less turbulence in a 747 than an A330 is purely a matter of mass.

[flyguy]

well i guess there are many airline sites that one can find out and hopefully you find that the A330 indeed do not ride turbulence better bec of its wings - but for protocol reasons, its better not to reply in here.

[blueodyssey]

How nice if SIA can produce this in 1:200 scale for sale in Krisshop...

[red_october]

I just checked my booking for my trip to KCH via SIN, my return flight from SIN to PER is on a A330-300 :-)

[SQ333]

Thanks for the dedicace.
9v-STC made 1st engine S/U monday, RTO test wenesday and first flight thursday





9V-STD left paint hangar wenesday


Have a nice WE
Laurent