Thomas Lee was invited by Singapore Airlines to be a guest on the maiden voyage of their new Airbus A380 aircraft. The flight from Singapore to Sydney carried 471 passengers in three classes of service, and was a momentous occasion covered by hundreds of journalists from around the world. Lee, as the only person to have flown on the inaugural flights of both the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, was interviewed extensively about his observations of how aircraft technology and air travel had progressed. The flight passed directly over the Sydney Opera House, with many helicopters following, before landing to an enthusiastic welcome in Sydney and extensive international media coverage of the historic inaugural A380 voyage.

1. Singapore Airlines Maintains
its Reputation for Superior
Service During Every Phase
of the A380 Maiden Voyage

2. As an Invited
Guest of Singapore
Airlines and a
successful eBay
bidder for Sally and
Briana’s seats,
we begin our
check-in process.

3. It is difficult to capture the
enormous size of the Airbus 380

4. The Singapore Airline’s A380 has two
complete decks, seating 471 passengers in
three comfortable classes.

5. There was a formal ceremony to present individual bank checks to the three charities
with funds totaling 2 Million Singapore Dollars raised during the Global eBay Auction.

6. These were a few of the world-renowned “Singapore Girls” who were
extremely lucky to participate on the Inaugural Flight

8. There were hundreds of the World’s Media from
virtually all Major Populated Continents

9. Most of the Press wanted to know my
observations of the differences between
the Inaugural B747 Flight 37 years ago
and this brand new A380.

10. Our Family being
interviewed on a “Live”
morning television
show in Singapore.

11. The Press Included Newspaper and Magazine Reporters
plus Radio and Television Media.
This crew is from Germany.

12. The German Media
were particularly
interested in this
original “Stern”
Magazine dated
February 1st, 1970.

13. German
publication
“Stern”
Magazine
similar to Life
Magazine
dated
Feb 1, 1970
does story on
747 First
Flight
Tom’s father (Burt)
mother (Deane)
and sister (Cathy)
Thomas Lee at 17

14. My Formal Introduction to
Singapore Airlines Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Chew Choon Seng

16. Briana commented on the
comfort of her seat and the
ample elbow room between
the window and the side wall.

17. The exhilaration of
our very long
60-second take off
roll was
overwhelming!
The Pilot reported
only using 74% of
the available
engine power.

18. We gently lifted off over
Singapore and immediately
noticed how absolutely quiet
the passenger cabin is
inside the A380

19. Champagne was served
freely in all classes of service
to commemorate this
great event.

20. There were several
young people
onboard. This boy
from India captured a
lot of Press attention.
This charming little girl (left) was also a media darling in her
Singapore Airline’s Flight Attendant Uniform.

21. Singapore Airlines CEO Mr.
Chew Choon Seng
presented this specially
framed honor that includes
my original Pan Am B747
First Flight certificate from
1970. He also personally
signed today’s Certificate
for this A380 First Flight.

23. This occasion provided me an opportunity to detail
for the CEO Monogram Systems & Zodiac’s
Contribution to Singapore’s A380 aircraft

24. Capitan Robert Ting
was very popular on
our flight and was
kind enough to
congratulate me and
sign the official A380
First Flight certificate
commemorating the
opportunity to be the
only person in the
world to make
double-decker
inaugural aviation
history twice.

26. Onboard the flight were 75+
members of the Media. This
photo was taken after being
interviewed by
Richard Quest for
CNN International.

27. There were many aviation
enthusiasts onboard. This
young man plans to be an
airline pilot and bashfully
asked to have his picture
taken.

28. This same young man
also requested an
autograph on one of the
many pieces of A380
Inaugural memorabilia.

29. Julian Hayward is the 38 year old
Australian Internet Entrepreneur that
spent US$100,300 on the eBay Auction
to buy one First Class Suite

30. Here is Briana testing out Julian’s
seat in his extremely comfortable
First Class Suite

31. Singapore Airlines was given
unprecedented permission by the
Australian Airworthiness
Authorities to perform a 1,500
foot “Fly-By” directly over the
world famous Sydney Opera
House and Harbor Bridge. Many
Helicopters chased us through
this low altitude pass.

32. After a seven hour flight and upon landing
in Sydney, the Press put their cameras in
the air to capture the rousing applause
heard throughout the entire aircraft

33. Dozens of Sydney Airport ground staff
eagerly awaited and then applauded as
we taxied into our arrival gate.

34. This was quite an historic event. Here is
the front page of one of the
Australian newspapers.

35. Sydney greeted us with all her splendor
and fabulous weather capping off our
long, but memorable journey.

37. Media Coverage

38. Within hours,
literally hundreds of
publications around
the world picked up
the story. Here are
just a few.

41. For more coverage
Type into Google:
“Thomas Lee A380”