Egypt4u

DAY TRIP TO DUBAI…..

I amused my Facebook friends with this picture claiming to be en route to Dubai in an A380 and having the opportunity to take over for a while……....I almost think I fooled some of them.


Actually it was a dummy simulator of of an A380 flight deck at the Emirates Air Line Experience in South London. Bigken went earlier in the year and told us about it and as yesterday promised lots of blue sky and sunshine, we did the one hour run up to the Greenwich Peninsular, that is also the location of the O2 Arena.

Emirates Air Line (or The Thames Cable Car) is one of the world wide installations sponsored by Emirates providing a birds eye view of some of the great capitals around the world. Happily London now ranks up there with the best. A cable car crosses from next to the O2 Arena to The Royal Docks area on the north side of the Thames. There are 32 gondolas crossing at 90 metres above the river taking about 10 minutes allowing plenty of time to admire the great views and get some snaps.

On the north side there is an interesting walk along the Albert Dock where some of the old dockside cranes have been retained as part of the development which is now mostly apartments and offices with several cafes and bars. All part of The Docklands Redevelopment. On the south side there is also what is called The Emirates Experience where there are various interactive features and other items associated with Emirates Airlines. The centre piece being the full size replica nose of an A380 and an associated long staircase up to the flight deck which gives an impression of the actual size.

Yet another London Visitor Attraction but one well worth doing. For visitors in London they can take the river bus to O2 and do the airline experience for about £22 which is actually quite a good deal and on the journey from The London Eye you see many points of interest on the way.

Here is a selection of my pics…

The replica A380 nose and a full scale model of a Rolls Royce Trent 800 aero engine constructed from 160,000 Lego bricks.


Climbing to the first pylon, and a gondola in the sky.


The lines of gondolas, coming and going, and the docklands redevelopment.


Retained dockland cranes, and in progress development on the south side. (Spot my Toyota iQ that I told you about. )

Absolutely brilliant Grandad and I can assure you that I would be cashing in on that picture in the cockpit big time
From here on in everytime I checked in at the airline desk my wallet would be open at that picture and a slight cough and a request for "any chance of an upgrade?" cough, cough.
And Mrs G to be programmed into saying "Oh look dear, I think we are travelling on the same type of aircraft you used to fly!"

Glad you like it H and that is a brilliant idea. In my travels I have been upgraded a few times but only once up to first class......That's the way to fly.....silver service and all that

My artistic director took the cockpit picture H, Fuji X10, no flash. The camera copes well in low light and my AD is getting better

As a 15 year old sea cadet, only recently started work, I got time off for a three week assignment on a merchant ship traveling between London and Hamburg with a variety of perishable goods. She was docked at Regents Canal Dock, just off Mile End Road Stepney, and a little further upstream from where the cable car is now sited.

This was 1949, not too long after the war. The East End of London was still very much as it had been for many years, a bit rough and shady but the home of the real Londoners. We did several trips and between trips I went home while the ship was re-loaded. Each time I returned it would be late evening and to a fifteen year old, that was a rather scary experience.

It was also scary in Hamburg. Anyone in uniform, police, military, local security; all carried side arms which in itself was unfamiliar because you never saw a firearm in the UK. Also there was a lot of poverty, Hamburg was flattened around the dock area and I remember being propositioned by a prostitute when on a tram going into town.

For a young lad still inexperienced with the fairer sex THAT WAS REAL SCARY.

so that was my first experiences in dockland and now it has all changed beyond recognition................

Way cool Grandad! Loved all the photos and Mrs Grandad did an excellent job of capturing you 'at the helm' (Or is that Navy) or 'in the command seat' errr - I dunno if there is a phrase for a Pilot - however you looked GREAT at the WHEEL (or stick or joy stick or whatever Pilots steer with!)

Super great idea on the part of Emirates too. Wish we had a few more things like that here.

Grandad fantastic photo & sounds like a great day out, well done to Mrs G with your photo in the cockpit, she did well

Not sure I could go in one of them gliding gondola's, no head for heights......Mmmm might be ok if I was sitting down

Great trip, Grandad .. sooner you than me in those boxes on strings ... oooo errrrrrr - I would be a quivering heap on the floor - : -

Heights don't bother me Jay and as for any risks, well 'Que Sera Sera'

We have another little 'air related' outing planned for Sunday but I will tell you about it on Monday......watch this space LLL, there may be something of mutual interest.

Will do Grandad!

I thought it quite impressive on your Dubai flight when you took on enemy fire and engaged in all those special manueuvers to evade the In coming! Great flying and pretty fast on the controls!