Airbus A380 enthralls onlookers at Begumpet airport

HYDERABAD: Hundreds of onlookers at the old Begumpet airport were in for a visual treat on Thursday as Airbus A380 touched the skies here.
 
Airbus Chief Executive Officer John Leahy, who was on board the aircraft, was welcomed by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel at 'India Aviation 2008', the first-of-its kind international exhibition and conference organised in the country.
 
The Airbus A380 touched down the runway at 12.22 pm, making little noise even as the awestruck visitors welcomed it with a thunderous applause.
 
As the aircraft, which flew in from the Airbus headquarters at Toulouse in France, taxied to its designated parking slot, its pilot John Mitchel waved the Indian tricolour from the cockpit and a water canon salute was offered.
 
This is the second time that the 'jumbo' aircraft has been seen in this part of the world. The A380 came to India first in 2007 when Kingfisher Airlines brought it to Mumbai for a demonstration.
 
The aircraft will fly to the Hyderabad International Airport at Shamshabad on Friday for yet another water canon salute before it flies out of the country.