A380

Visited KMCO 11/13/07 - 11/15/07

The visit was to show potential buyers that Orlando international was ready for the A380. While here they practiced "de-icing" ,...yea... right. It was 83 degrees and I got a sunburn while guarding the plane. KMCO has widened the taxiways for runways 18L/36R and 18R/36L for the A380. These runways were designed for B52's back when this use to be a Strategic Command airfield.

A Boarding Pass was required to get the VIP Tour

First Class Cabin

Emergency Exit and Galley with real wood floors

The restrooms allow you to take a peek while you take a leak

Economy Section  I was able to stand up in the middle section without having to stoop down easily accommodating someone 6'3". The aircraft was configured for 527 passengers

Stairway leading to the Business Section

Business seats have US and European voltage, MP3 jacks, Ethernet, headset jacks and more

F-WWJB production 007 "James Bond" they call it

A380 brochure says that the rudder is taller than the White House

Can see the "swoop" from these angles

The "closed" front landing gear doors appeared to be larger than the bed of a full size pickup truck

Landing gear

I was told each engine was 9 million each

Engine is 116 inches across, the same diameter as a B737 fuselage

Departing 11/15/07 on a light fog morning

Turning onto 18R

I misjudged where it would rotate and was setup near midfield

The A380 rotated prior to midfield

See Ya Again in 2012....hopefully

Heading back to Montreal and then France