My journey into the aviation world is anything but typical — it began with a fear of flying. I'm the kind of nervous traveler who braces for turbulence, unable to shake the unease until the plane lands safely. I used to stick to airlines I knew well. However, circumstances in 2020 led me to board a China Southern Airbus A380 (B-6137), a completely unfamiliar airline and aircraft for me. Amidst my anxiety, I dove into researching the A380 and unexpectedly found myself fascinated by this colossal aircraft. I discovered that China Southern was unique in not grounding their A380s during the pandemic, but my excitement dimmed when they retired their fleet by 2022 while other airlines were reintroducing theirs. This disappointment ignited something within me, sparking a deep dive into not only the A380 but also the world of aviation in its entirety.  My exploration of this captivating universe truly took off from there. 

The A380 remains my favourite commercial aircraft.  Among transporter aircraft, the Beluga XL freighter, especially Beluga XL 6 with its winking eye, holds a special place in my heart.