B747-8 Beta PIREP

[cavaricooper 2,611]

This evening, after returning from feeding the trolly-dolly, I settled in for a bit of testing.  In initial flight test, I find repeated short segments wholly the best way to explore all the nuances of flight modes, and since I am flying electrons, no one really seems to mind that my toasters move a few hundred miles, instead of the normal few thousand.  I decided to poke the sleeping beast, in my own back yard- TPA to ATL would do nicely this evening.

Here we are trundling out to depart 01R. 

The whine, including the spool up and down is decidedly unlike the Rollers I am used to, but intoxicating nonetheless.  The airport map on the ND was a nice addition and added to our SA greatly.

With her greater length I keep reminding myself to overshoot the B pillar before tillering over instead of as soon as it touches the centerline as in the 744.  With a modicum of caution, we managed to line up without taking out any edge lighting. 

At least that bit was over without tea and biscuits with RSR (horrible tea and soggy biscuits btw).

Advancing the thrust levers, we accelerated smartly at our light weight, and with a long pull on the yoke we rotated to fly off.  Once airborne, I let her have her head, and pulled the nose up to keep from busting flap speeds- this isn’t Cardiff, and she’s not a -436, but just look at the performance!

Climb and cruise was non eventful and I spent the time working through EICAS pages and exploring the EFB (more to come on that I’m sure).  The ECLs were a welcome addition and all too soon I was self briefing for the arrival.  Weather in the Atlanta area was absolute crap, with CBs everywhere on the ND.

I kept working off the Magenta trying to thread the needle, but we were getting bounced around well enough for me to put down my Darjeeling, and sit up straight.  That’s when I went outside for a peek at this new wing.  What I saw prompted this article.

Take a look at the next two pictures- Wing flap has reached new levels of articulation. 

There are no visible points on the curve.  The flap articulates along the span, with the delay of momentum, resulting in proportional up and down movement from fuselage center to wing tip.  It is something to behold and captivating enough, that for one brief moment I was passenger and not pilot- I could not tear away, back to the VC. 

The fuselage moved, the wide chord section moved more and the tips even more- without any hard points.  The visual was that of an aircraft wing in flex, without any of the dilution of computerized simulation.  The fuselage moved up and down at one rate, the wing tips completely at another, and the transition between the two absolutely seamless- I’m not sure what they did this time- but I can’t wait for you to see it- BRILLIANT!

As suddenly as the Wx had deteriorated, we were out of it and establishing- Atlanta lay directly ahead.

She painted onto the asphalt very predictably and we taxied in whilst marveling at how far this airframe has come.  Joe and his Incredibles started what the 747-8 delivers all these many years later.  Who knew?

More to come....

C

Edited July 8, 2018 by lasnubes

[Fabiano.S 0]

Great photos! Congrats!

Fabiano Souza.

[evaamo 549]

Great, Carl!!! thanks for sharing!!!

cheers

-E

 

[JA806A 26]

Outstanding

 

Michael Chandler

[beachdog2001 21]

Is this livery a nod to CaptainJoe?

[Ephedrin 418]

6 hours ago, lasnubes said:

Joe and his Incredibles

 

32 minutes ago, beachdog2001 said:

Is this livery a nod to CaptainJoe?

He means Joe Sutter... The „father of the 747“. 

[beachdog2001 21]

I mean YouTube CaptainJoe actually.

[30K 72]

What ATL scenery is that?

Great shots btw.

[cavaricooper 2,611]

“Joe and his Incredibles” refers to Joe Sutter indeed. The ATL Scenery is from ImagineSim.

BTW- click on the pics for full 4K.

 

[pellelil 10]

Can't wait to take her out of ELLX. Nice pics, thanks for sharing

 

[Jackaroo05 13]

Nice! What are your Shaders and Clouds? What are your HDR settings?

-Jack Schoonover

[beachdog2001 21]

CaptainJoe just started flying for Cargolux is what I meant, not Joe and his Incredibles.

[Ephedrin 418]

On 7/8/2018 at 9:46 PM, beachdog2001 said:

CaptainJoe just started flying for Cargolux is what I meant, not Joe and his Incredibles.

Yes, there are several former Air Berlin pilots who had to look for a new employer... 

[cavaricooper 2,611]

Please NOTE- these images are from the BETA and therefore may not represent the final product. THIS IS A WORK-IN-PROGRESS.

[Boomer 1,619]

Nice, looking forward to this bird...