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Ride on the first A350 in Europe

Csaba Czeilinger
2015. okt. 25.
3 perc olvasás

The Airbus has delivered the first A350 to the Finnair on 7th October. Which means the finnair got another "I'm the first" title. In the first few weeks they flying with the plane across Europe to train the crew and get enough practice to the first long haul flights which sould take place 21st November on route to Shanghai on the AY057 flight. When they announced the "test" flight dates and destinations I decided I have to be there! I'm close to the Heathrow airport so first I looking for a return trip to Helsinki but I realised the price for a round trip it's to expensive so I try find another way and a bit more flights. Finally I made a weekend roundtrip with touching every Scandinavian country and my flight be selected as AY666 from Copenhagen to Helsinki. I have contacted with the airline a few times before the flight asking about some media event where I can do some exclusive images. Sadly always get a negative answer.

The day has come. On 18th October on a chilling morning I has landed in Copenhagen about 1,5 hours before the A350s official landing time. I went to the information where should the plane stopping and the aldie there told me the Finnair flight normally operate from the "A" gates. I went up to the A gates and sat down and wait for the plane. After one hour the plane is turn onto the final approach and I had a really good feeling. Why? Because I felt this day gonna be a lucky day for me.

The fire department is appeared with three follow me vans and getting ready for the welcome of the plane. And here she is! The plane just turn off from the runway and heading to the gate. Before entering to the apron area the water canons been fired and made the salute for this beauty.

Finally the plane is parked at the B gates so I got my running shoes and get there quickly let's see what can I photograph from there?! Sadly the B15 gate was one of the mostly crowed with gates, poles etc so only the left wing was clear to shot. And how I mentioned earlier the airline rejected many times my photoshott request so I was a bit disappointed but in a few second time I just realised my lucky number is the 6 so three times 6 must be a really lucky day for me. So when I saw some part of the crew coming off from the plane I went to them to ask maybe they let me to do some photos about the plane without passnegers? And YES! The lucky number bring my luck. I met with one of the most spotter friendly - if not the most spotter freindly- crew.

They went away for a bit and when they come back they invited me onboard of this beauty. I got and exclusive tour onboard from the cockpit to the end of the plane.

The cockpit of the plane is very spacious. 5 large digital display showing the important details to the pilots and two smaller one on the center console. The desing is the curently in style modern lines and soft looking desing. Personally I like it.

Next stop was a quite not public place, the crew rest area where the crew can take a short sleep on long haul flights.

And straight after this one the business class comes where 46 seats been placed what the passengers can convert into a flat bed during the long flights. Every seat are equiped with a big screen and give acces to the really great IFE system.

The economy class is separated for two parts. Economy Comfort and Economy. On the Comfort section you can find 43 seats with 35 inch pitch and 18 inch which means 4 inch bigger legroom than on the Economy section.

My seat was the 46A which one give me a pretty good view and an overlook on the nicely shaped wing. The flight was really smooth and comfortable. The plane and the 15 crew member is passed the test. The seats are very comfortable even for long haul flights. The crew is one of the most friendliest I ever seen.

The IFE is great. I looked trough and I find a very wide selection of movies and series so you never can be bored on this flights. And for me a great thing was the two camera which is fitted on the outside of the plane. One on the top of the tail and one on the belly just behind the nose gear. But I believe one picture can say more then 100 words so let's enjoy the pictures. Special Thanks to Minna Saarniaho who made possible this photo shoot!