Even in September this year, our civic association received an invitation from the Emirates airline representation in Vienna for a visit to their flagship, Airbus A380. An aircraft tour was connected to a fire station at Schwechat Airport. Our forwarded newsletter, Sushi, has taken this tour to take a shot to give you a glimpse into the backstage of the airport and, of course, to the gutter of the largest transport aircraft of the present.
The Fire and Rescue Station at Vienna Airport is strategically located at the crossing of Runway 29 and Runway 34. In short, it is possible to reach the airport and adjacent areas in a short space of time. The Ziegler Z8, which, despite its weight of more than 40 tons, can carry up to 12,000 liters of water and fire extinguishers at a speed of up to 130 km / h. The 12-cylinder engine with a capacity of 21 liters has power up to 735kW, which is 1,000 hp. Acceleration 0-80 km / h is 25 seconds. The crew is made up of a chauffeur and two interceptors. Modern technologies, such as night vision cameras, allow you to control extinguishing directly from the driver’s seat. The catalog price of this vehicle starts at € 1,000,000.
In the garrison of the Fire Brigade, we also discovered a special tracked vehicle designed for transport under difficult conditions such as mud, snow and ice. The designation of this vehicle is Hägglunds BV 206. It was developed in 1974 for the needs of the Swedish Army, but for its exceptional abilities it is also used in fire and rescue corps around the world. The vehicle can carry up to 17 people (6 in the front and 11 in the rear). The total weight is 7 tonnes and the payload can be up to 2,240 kg. Maximum speed is 50 km / h on land or 4.6 km / h in water.
Let’s go now to the top of the day – the Airbus A380-800 tour of the A6-EDK. Emirates decided to deploy this model instead of Boeing 777-300 for the upcoming round of flights Dubai – Vienna – Dubai in July this year. Negotiations with Schwechat and the Austrian government have been lengthy, but eventually “impossible” has become reality, and we see the A380 at the airport every day. The aircraft was made in 2010. Its configuration is 14 seats in the first class, 76 seats in the business and 399 in the tourist. The first and business class is located along with a bar on the upper deck and the tourist class seats are located on the lower deck. The seats of the tourist class are 3-4-3.
Gulf Airlines flights are known for superior interior cabin equipment and the use of luxurious materials. Emirates has always shown a trend in quality and standards. Even the A380 is no exception. Luxury dominates looking at the imitation of gold and wood that is used at every step. What will surely surprise you is the shower, which is designed for first-class passengers.
Menu served in the economy class offers a choice of two meals. Of course appetizer and dessert is included. The menu of food in the business class is already more varied. Travelers can choose from three meals, three main dishes and two kinds of desserts. The first-class menu is a culinary experience in 10,000 meters. 21 year old Glenfiddich whiskey, Hennessy Paradis Cognac or Dom Pérignon 2006 will definitely prepare you for what not even some rebuilt restaurants – shrimps, caviar, beef tenderoil. Everyone will definitely choose.
IFE (In Flight Entertainment) on board the A380 is really full of fun and lets you enjoy a long flight according to your own imagination – over 300 movies (news or years of honored film hits), more than 1800 music titles, games. WiFi internet, whether you can make a phone call or send an SMS message, will allow you to stay connected with family and friends on the ground.
Emirates offers to business and first class passengers free transportation to the airport and the airport. In the case of a business class within 40 kilometers of Vienna and in the case of the first class within 50 kilometers of Vienna. The transport and import to and from Bratislava is subject to a fee of EUR 60.
What to write at the end? If you have the opportunity and the budget allows you – take a seat with Emirates.
We thank Emirates for allowing us to visit this aircraft.
