Airbus to make debut in north-west

The Airbus A380 will this weekend make its first appearance in north-west England.

July 12th will see the superjumbo make its debut at both Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport before heading to the Wirral Show.

The plane will carry out two 'fly-pasts' at the north-west airports before following the River Mersey and the Liverpool waterfront to the Wirral Show.

Some 200,000 people are expected to attend the show and, weather permitting, they will see the A380 carry out a special flying display.

Peter Chandler, a former RAF pilot and Virgin Atlantic captain, will be behind the controls of the plane for these appearances.

Mr Chandler said: "It is a great privilege to be able to bring the A380 to the north-west and to show it off for the first time at the region's international airports.

"We are especially keeping our fingers crossed for good weather over the Wirral in order to fully demonstrate how versatile, quiet and manoeuvrable this wonderful aircraft is."

These events will represent a homecoming of sorts for the A380, as many of its 7,000-strong workforce are based in the north-west and its wings are manufactured at the Airbus UK plant near Chester.