Starring role: A380 attracts attention
This may be the A380’s third visit to Le Bourget but that has not stopped visitors from coming in their droves to take a look at the aircraft on static display. And many are keen to take away a souvenir - their photo taken next to the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
A team from Airbus is on hand to give customers, partners and invited guests from other EADS companies guided tours of the interior of MSN001, one of the two flight test aircraft at the show, the other is taking part in the flying display.
“It is very much the most public part of the EADS display,” said Keith Stonestreet, product marketing director A380 and one of the people conducting the tours. “Of course as it is a test aircraft we have to explain what the interior would be like on a normal aircraft, however visitors are very interested to find out how the test equipment on board works.”
It really is a global attraction too - so far the team has hosted groups from Europe, Asia, North America and South Africa, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
“We give people the chance to sit in the flight deck and this really is the ‘winner takes all’ moment for them,” Keith added. “Even the most senior visitor gets a smile on the their face when they get to have their picture taken sitting in the pilot’s seat!”
