How the King and Queen of the skies compare in head-on view of Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 taking off
Published on Dec 07, 2025 at 10:13 AM (UTC-5)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Dec 07, 2025 at 10:13 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A YouTube clip posted by Topfelya captures two aviation heavyweights departing London Gatwick, starting with Virgin Atlantic’s retired Boeing 747 – the onetime Queen of the Skies – taxiing into a clean head-on takeoff shot.
Right after, an Emirates Airbus A380 repeats the same move, its full-length double deck and huge 260-foot wingspan filling much more of the frame.
Seen back-to-back like this, the video neatly jumps from the classic four-engine jumbo that shaped Virgin’s early long-haul routes to the modern super-jumbo still flying worldwide.
It’s a clear look at how the 747’s legacy compares to the sheer scale of the A380 today.
DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
