Virgin Planes from Manchester

[Rain]

We have booked for May, The plane is supposed to be the new airbus and seat choice confirms this. We are flying PE.
I am in my comfort zone on the usual 747 and am not really looking forward to the airbus experience. I have been told that you really feel every bit of turbulence and I get motion sickness in turbulence.
Can anyone who has been on this plane put my mind at rest.
What is the chance of Virgin changing the plane back to 747 by May?

 

[wayneg]

If they have allocated the A330 I can't see them changing back.
Flew back in August on the A330 in PE, never felt a bit if turbulance, not heard of them being any worse than the 747.
The 747's are in desperate need of a refit, would take the new plane anyday over them.

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

I've been on the A330 three times (2 day flights, 1 night flight) and the 747 once (night flight).

The flight on the 747 had the worst turbulence ever! The seat belt signs stayed on 90% of the flight and the girl next to us was crying the whole time because she thought we were all going to die

The flights on the A330 were smooth with no turbulence. Plus they are beautiful planes with the mood lighting and big TV screens with 35+ on demand films to choose from (and this is in Economy - I only get to see PE when walking through to my seat ).

I wouldn't travel on the 747 again - they are tatty! But they are getting refurbed and will be done for September 2012 (or so we were told on the phone).

However, I think if there is enough turbulence to shake the plane, it's going to shake regardless of how old or new the plane is.

 

[Rain]

That sounds a bit more reassuring thanks!!!

 

[juliebro]

We are flying in April for the first time with Virgin from Manchester. When do the new planes become operational?

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

We are flying in April for the first time with Virgin from Manchester. When do the new planes become operational?

The new planes are now fully operational and have been for most of this year. Next year we are on the 11am flight out of Manchester which is the A330, and we come back at 8.30pm which is the 747.

I love flying on the 747 even though it's tatty. A pilot friend of mine says its most pilots favorite to fly. As he says "Its a proper plane".

As i live right next to the arport i've noticed that its always the 747 that leaves second and comes home second.

 

[juliebro]

Thanks.

We fly out on VS073 and back on VS074 - so am guessing we're on the old planes?

 

[wayneg]

Thanks.

We fly out on VS073 and back on VS074 - so am guessing we're on the old planes?

Thats correct, we are on the VS075 in July, that will be the A330.

 

[chmurf]

feeling the turbulences is something very hard to predict.

I don't know which plane is the most stable, but even then it all depends if you hit turbulences at all.
Even if we told you the 747 was less sensitive to turbulences, if the plane hits heavy turbulences the ride will be more rough than in a 330 not hitting turbulences ... see my point ?

Also, it will depend on the seat you book. Usually, over the wings will be the least shaky, and the back of the plane will be a roller coaster (so to speak) -

 

[Rain]

feeling the turbulences is something very hard to predict.

I don't know which plane is the most stable, but even then it all depends if you hit turbulences at all.
Even if we told you the 747 was less sensitive to turbulences, if the plane hits heavy turbulences the ride will be more rough than in a 330 not hitting turbulences ... see my point ?

Also, it will depend on the seat you book. Usually, over the wings will be the least shaky, and the back of the plane will be a roller coaster (so to speak) -

Really I was looking at the effects of turbulence on the plane given the same set of circumstances. Obviously a small cessna would get more blown about than a large plane.
I was told that as the 747 is heavier you get less of the dreaded T ( saying that I have been on a number of turbulent 747 flight across the pond)
I read on a pilot site that the turbulence issue with the 330 is to do with the type of wing????

 

[chmurf]

Really I was looking at the effects of turbulence on the plane given the same set of circumstances.

...

I read on a pilot site that the turbulence issue with the 330 is to do with the type of wing????

You're right about the wing design. Turbulences can be rougher on a A330. But the computers flying the airplane also do a better job controlling those turbulences.
So the A330 will experience more turbulences (under the same weather conditions) but it is also equipped to handle them better.

The most important thing (and I stress that point) is to try and seat as close as possible to the center of gravity of the plane (usually the wing section) for this is where the plane will be the most stable, and this is plane independant.

 

[Rain]

You're right about the wing design. Turbulences can be rougher on a A330. But the computers flying the airplane also do a better job controlling those turbulences.
So the A330 will experience more turbulences (under the same weather conditions) but it is also equipped to handle them better.

The most important thing (and I stress that point) is to try and seat as close as possible to the center of gravity of the plane (usually the wing section) for this is where the plane will be the most stable, and this is plane independant.

We are sat up front in PE.