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Airbus A380 Lands in Toronto: in Photos

Posted by Jerrold Litwinenko / June 1, 2009

26 Comments

airbus a380 toronto landing pearsonPlane spotting is fun. It's even more awe-inspiring when you get to see something for the first time, from the tarmac of Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

This afternoon, I had an up-close opportunity to watch United Arab Emirates Flight 241 touch down, representing Canada's first look at the Airbus A380 (the world's largest passenger airliner) in commercial service. One of just 14 currently in operation world-wide, it approached, it landed, it taxied, and then it got doused in water in celebratory fashion before finally docking. Here is my view of the action, in photos.

airbus a380 toronto

airbus a380 toronto

airbus a380 toronto

airbus a380 toronto

airbus a380 toronto

And more in the slideshow embedded below:


Not large enough? Check out the full-screen slideshow.

Update: Check out the Toronto Star's video (embedded below), which includes a chat with the pilot, and look inside the UAE A380:

Discussion

26 Comments

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Alex / June 1, 2009 at 09:30 pm
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Wow! This plane is huge.. Why do they spray it though?
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Matthew / June 1, 2009 at 09:47 pm
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Was thinking the same thing myself. Perhaps to dislodge any errant ice left over from the flight?
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Dani@anblickstudios.com / June 1, 2009 at 09:56 pm
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"and then it got doused in water in celebratory fashion before finally docking."

celebratory thing for a new aircraft coming to a new airport i assume
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pluggedin replying to a comment from Matthew / June 1, 2009 at 09:57 pm
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"in celebratory fashion" - water's cheaper than champagne.
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jamesmallon / June 1, 2009 at 09:59 pm
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Dubai: indentured Baluchi labour, oil money, pyramid real-estate schemes, the Beckhams and this. Vulgar.
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Ramon Ernesto replying to a comment from Alex / June 1, 2009 at 10:17 pm
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The spray it because it's an inaugural flight.
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arcticlamb / June 1, 2009 at 10:43 pm
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Very cool, yes. But not "Canada's first look" at the A380. The plane did cold-weather testing in Iqaluit quite some time ago.
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Pistol replying to a comment from Alex / June 1, 2009 at 10:59 pm
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It is a Tradition to dump a bucket of water on a pilot after making his or her first solo flight. I would think this is a Tradition for the workers at an Airport to welcome a New aircraft on its inaugural Flight.
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Dennis / June 2, 2009 at 12:16 am
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Why do I feel 5d MII?
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Ratpick / June 2, 2009 at 09:04 am
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I hope it didn't fly over the island residents on the way in.
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sniderscion / June 2, 2009 at 10:14 am
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Great shots; great opportunity. Interesting that we can take for granted the fact that something this massive actually gets airborne. I wonder what someone from 100 years ago would make of this.
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Marc Lostracco / June 2, 2009 at 10:17 am
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More shots from inside the aircraft and from the air, as well as its departure last night: http://torontoist.com/2009/06/a380_superjumbo.php
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Jerrold / June 2, 2009 at 10:36 am
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Aerials and departure shots, courtesy of Tom Podolec:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/news46/sets/72157619027401803/show/
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Born&RaisedInTO / June 2, 2009 at 11:13 am
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Tres cool!!! And kudos to the pilots for a safe landing - maneuvering an air-hotel for a gazillion hours must be nerve-racking :)

Hey, jamesmallon: Canada has its own corruption & tons of oil $$$ - how come the Saudi's can make dreams come true but Toronto can't even decide what to do with a raised highway?!?
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Tom W / June 2, 2009 at 01:10 pm
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It's from the UAE, they should have doused it in oil. After all, they can afford it.
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Abbas / June 2, 2009 at 02:27 pm
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I was on that flight and everyone got a certificate since it was the innagural flight. The service was great and staff very friendly and polite. I would not do this flight again though as I never thought a 14 hour flight would be so exhausting. :-)
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marlene / June 2, 2009 at 04:46 pm
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More jaw dropping than seeing it land, is watching this plane take off! It looks just too cumbersome and unable as it lumbers down the runway...quite scary! But needless to say, it makes it...heavily! Watch it!
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raymond replying to a comment from Alex / June 2, 2009 at 08:07 pm
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The reason for spraying is to welcome the plane by the toronto fire fighter. just like confetti or rice at weddings or ribbons.
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reza / June 3, 2009 at 05:48 pm
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i think they spray because it might have swine flu
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Charlie / June 3, 2009 at 11:17 pm
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I found some short videos of the interior of the A380 on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIxLLL4WFao
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lisa / June 5, 2009 at 11:05 pm
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Tonight we had a chance to see the airbus a380 leaving Pearson Internation Airport....wow what an amazing plane.....this thing is massive. It was just after 10 pm
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Mike_S / April 13, 2010 at 12:27 pm
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Anybody know when the next A380 is scheduled for Toronto?
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Mel Goode / April 21, 2010 at 01:31 am
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I was on that inaugural flight arriving Pearson June 1st- they sprayed water in celebration, there was a lot of TV cameras and reporters there too - great fun!
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Debbie replying to a comment from Mike_S / April 9, 2011 at 09:04 pm
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It arrives on Mon, Wed and Frid at 15.45
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Len Rosen / November 7, 2011 at 11:12 am
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I am writing a blog on 21st century technology and would like to use your image of the Airbus A380 to juxtapose against the Wright Flyer image from 1903 to show the evolution of airframes from the beginning of the 20th century to the 21st. I can cite you as the source.
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nick / December 9, 2011 at 01:58 pm
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that westjet isnt even close to the a380 thaT PLANE IS FRICKIN HUGE
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