Los Angeles — For my flight to Seattle, I jumped at the opportunity to try Virgin America for the first time.
I’ve spent plenty of time analyzing the new airline andwhat it means for the global Virgin brand, but had yet to have the chance to see it first hand.

With the limited route network of this new airline, it did mean I would have to connect in Los Angeles to get to Seattle, however the tech and plane aficionado in me wanted to get hands-on with the unique experience in the cabin of N526VA, a four month-old Airbus A319.

When boarding I was immediately struck by the purple and pink signature mood-lighting has found its way onto Virgin America’s fleet.

Yet, the real gem on this A319 lives in the headrest at every seat.

Each seat’s IFE hosts a 9″ Linux based touch screen user interface called Red that allows users to watch live TV, watch new-release movies on-demand, hop into a chat room or instant message another passenger with the QWERTY keyboard on each hand controller, play games (including Doom – which this blogger enjoyed greatly) and create a custom playlist of songs from 240 artists you’ve actually heard of. As the flight progressed, all these events were saved in a section called ‘my media’ which allowed me to flip between the TV station I last watched, the movie I had rented (a free TEDTalks seminar with Sir Richard Branson), and my playlist, which was getting quite long packed with The Who, Bruce Springsteen and U2.

WA004, originally uploaded by flightblogger.

I flew United to France on the slim chance that I would get to fly one
of these storied 777s. This one, N773UA was line 4 out of Everett in
1994 and took part in the 777 flight test program. it first flew
October 28,1994.

It once went by the name WA004 and validated the 1000 cycle ETOPS
testing for the FAA.

There is a rich history behind this beauty.

Toulouse — Airbus has announced a partnership with JetBlue, IAE and Honeywell to test the 2nd generation of biofuels.

The joint activity will help develop renewable energy technology to convert vegetation and algae-based oils into aviation fuels.

The goal is to examine the benefits of jet fuels that are made from renewable biomass sources that do not compete with existing food or water resources.

Beyond the initial environmental benefits of reduced carbon footprint and reduced emissions, the examination of 2nd generation biofuels will also investigate the potential for payload-range aircraft performance, reduction in fuel burn and increased engine reliability and durability.

“Airbus believes that 2nd generation bio-jet could provide up to 30 percent of all commercial aviation jet fuel by 2030,” said Sebastien Remy, head of Alternative Fuels Research Programs for Airbus.

JetBlue’s fleet of Airbus A320 are entirely powered by IAE V2500 engines.

Filed on location at the Airbus Technical Press Briefing

Toulouse — Airbus announced it intended to test an electric taxi system for A320 family aircraft.

The system, which would see electrical motors installed in the wheels, would power the narrowbody aircraft to the take off area to significantly reduce the amount of fuel burned during the taxi phase of the flight.

“We are always looking to save as much fuel as possible,” said A320 Family Program Executive Vice President Alain Flourens.

UPDATE: During the initial tests, which are slated to take place before year’s end, the motors will be powered by the auxiliary power unit in the tail of the aircraft. Flourens added that any increase in weight due to the addition of the motors on the aircraft landing gear would be offset by the expected overall fuel savings of the system.

Posted on location at the Airbus Technical Press Briefing

Airbus Flightline

Originally uploaded by flightblogger

Note the vintage A300B on the left and the line up of A330/A340 for
Finnair, QANTAS, Kingfisher and Jet Airways.

At Work in Toulouse

Originally uploaded by flightblogger

Airbus COO John Leahy briefs the press on the market as the company
sees it.

More to follow.