The World of Aviation

This edition of the Australian Aviation podcast looks back at the 10 years since Qantas took delivery of its first Airbus A380, VH-OQA Nancy-Bird Walton.

Ten years ago this week, Qantas became the third airline to take delivery of the Airbus A380. In recognition of this milestone, Australian Aviation takes a look back at the history of the world’s largest passenger aircraft in Qantas colours and contemplates its future with the Flying Kangaroo.

The Qantas A380 era began when the first of its double-decker giants, VH-OQA Nancy-Bird Walton, touched down at Sydney Airport at 9am on September 21 2008.

They throw in a free load of fuel when you buy an Airbus A380. But when the largest aircraft in commercial aviation costs north of $300 million each, that’s probably the least that manufacturer Airbus could do.

Long before the first Qantas A380 touched down on Australian soil, its crews were well versed in the ways of the massive Airbus flagship.

This edition of the Australian Aviation podcast talks with Liam Morey from Teen Around Oz, who at 16 years of age is attempting to break the Guinness World record to be the youngest person to circumnavigate Australia unassisted and on his own in a plane.