Captain Dave

Mancunian A350 Captain. Ex A380/318/319/320/321/B737. Music/science/sport/film/F1 fan. My views not those of employer. captain_dave_airbus3501000 on Instagram.

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent such lovely messages after my last post. 😊 Don’t worry! I’m absolutely fine and still loving flying. I was just trying to explain why I hadn’t been posting on here very often. Lots going on has meant social media has taken a back step for me over the last few months. Your kindness is humbling. Thank you 😊❤️

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@MattFromAstley I’m fine. Thanks. 😊 As I’m sure everyone knows, some years are more variable than others!

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

For those who have been sending me messages asking why I haven’t been posting much this year….well it’s been a hard one in many ways. Some absolutely amazing days (daughter graduating for example), some truly horrible events, some real upsets, losing some people who were very important to me (either literally or in terms of contact) and some very tough decisions. Of course, that’s life and as hard as the bad bits have been I’ve also loved the good bits. But it’s also why posting on here and Insta has taken a back seat. To quote my good friend, things can only get better! 😊 So hopefully next year I’ll be back to posting more interesting (possibly!) aviation stuff and we may even see a very big change…….
Thanks to all those who have shown concern. It hasn’t gone unnoticed 😊❤️

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@SlowFastJames @JSS779 That’s what you get for being a research/field chemist in a previous life! 🤣

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@FreddSays Obvious if you know what you meant! 🙈

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@SlowFastJames @JSS779 All the way from the front to the back and even in the crew rest areas!

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

Well this place has changed a bit since I last visited! Mind you, that was in February 2020 and flying an aircraft with four engines! 😊✈️

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@FreddSays Maybe if you had specified where the noise levels you were referring to had been measured I would have been able to comment appropriately…..

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@JSS779 @Waxlyricist Yes, to a certain extent. But the ‘extra’ wing performance gives it very good takeoff, landing and cruise performance.

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@Waxlyricist @JSS779 No. The maximum takeoff weight of the A380 is around 80% more than the A350. Certification of a 2-engined aircraft requires it to be flyable with one engine failed. Imagine the size of the engine you’d need for that!

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@jonhoneyball @FreddSays 😊👍🏻

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@Waxlyricist @JSS779 Unfortunately not. Large twins are the way everyone is going now. I think the A380 will be the last of the large 4-engined aircraft unfortunately.

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@EverFurther @JSS779 Everywhere. A while ago I measured the noise levels all around the aircraft. It’s the quietest there is.

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

The A380 has two systems which help reduce turbulence. Passive Turbulence Alleviation (PTA) and Active Turbulence Alleviation (ATA).
PTA works by symmetrically deflecting ailerons and possibly extending spoilers. Up to 15 degrees of ailerons and/or spoilers can be added. Spoilers are only used if above 220kts and load greater than 1.7g
ATA uses just ailerons. Up to 7 degrees of aileron deflection can be commanded and applied symmetrically. The amount of deflection depending on vertical acceleration measured by six accelerometers in the outboard engine pylons.
The most visible thing people notice about the turbulence alleviation systems is the almost continual movement of the three ailerons at the end of each wing. This is completely automatic but helps make the ride as smooth as possible.

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@drs_even @JSS779 Hardly surprising with takeoff weights 80% more than the A350. For its size it is still unbelievably quiet outside.

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@PRockbottom @JSS779 They were excellent when the aircraft were delivered but things, as always, have moved on. The new interior fit of the refurbished A380s will be superb. 😊

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

I can’t see that happening unfortunately. The only engines that could possibly be fitted are the new GE9X, the Trent XWB and the Ultrafan. The first two are unnecessarily big and powerful compared to the Trent 900 and GP7200 and the Ultrafan is probably too far away from being certified. It would also be an expensive exercise going through the re-engining and certification process for an airframe that will be reasonably old by then.

[Captain Dave @DaveWallsworth]

@Ssears69 @JSS779 Fabulous! And yes, I do miss it. 😊