Queen of the Skies: New A346

[Pete]

Her Maj, Lizzie Windsor, has cracked a bottle of bubbly on a new A346 in France today. The new aircraft is dubbed Queen of the Skies - does anyone know what registration it is, and whether this is the first A340-600 with Suites?

Enquiring minds need to know..

Pix

Perhaps G-VMAJ

[Pete]

..or G-VLIZ?

G-VEIL?

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/534951/L/

[Pete]

That could be a possibility. Maybe they decided against 'Dancing Girl' if the convinced Liz to go over especially for it.

Pix

[Decker]

Wasn't she there already for the "Entente Cordiale" celebrations?

Pix

Yup, the link that Jonathan posted has the reg of F-WWCK cn575, so it definitely looks like it's G-VEIL:

http://www.jethros.i12.com/FLEETS/Listings/VIRGIN_ATLANTIC.html

Dunno if it'll have UCS - even the press release doesn't say so:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/press_release.view.do?press_id=2096

Cheers

Entente Cordial...

Should never have been signed really...

Cheese eating surrender monkeys [}:)]

G-VEIL had been delivered to VS, and was seen at LHR a couple of weeks ago, however returned to Toulouse to have the UCS fitted.
There are some pictures of test flights in Toulouse on Airliners.Net.
From yesterdays events I imagine this will be entering service in the very near future.

G-VEIL will be the first A340-600 with suites

[Pete]

Excellent.

Right, we need a seat map!

Pix

I think RB should have taken the opportunity to ask Liz for a 'By Royal Appointment' approval, or at least to fly her on one of the official tours instead of BA. That would be a real Coup for VS, and yet another screw in BA's coffin!