Firefly Review – Episode 1: The Sexy ATR-72

Welcome to AzuanZahdi.com’s first episode of a series of thematic reviews on Firefly Airline, Malaysia’s first community airline. This very first episode will look into one of the reasons why I find Firefly Airline is a better choice compared to other airlines available out there.

Of course, there are many factors to consider when choosing an airline. But most of the times, people will only look at one which is Price. For this article, let’s put aside price for the time being and zoom in on my favorite factor in choosing Firefly, which is the plane.

The mighty and sexy ATR-72 plane.

(Image by FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, used with permission)

By now, some of you who know me would say “You’re saying that, because you’re an aviation enthusiasts!”

It is true that for many people, an aircraft is an aircraft but let’s look at it in a different way. If you have one million Ringgit, which one of the following do you prefer?

A branded, big but old big Van that can fit many People

(Image from http://www.buszone.co.uk/)

or

A branded new Big Car that can cramp many People inside…

(Image from www.malaysiatour2u.com)

or

A branded, newer, smaller but sexier car

(Image from http://www.elitecarmallorca.com)

I would go for the last option which is something sexy and new of course, even if it’s smaller. And just like cars (and vans), a plane can indeed be sexy. And I always find that the ATR-72 is one nice and sexy plane

Why?

Here are the reasons:

a) It’s a half French and half Italian

If you’re a guy you would understand. If you’re a lady, go ask your husband or your boyfriend or even your brother, what they think about someone or something which is a mix of Italian and French origin. 99% of guys would smile and imagine someone or something pretty! Even some of the girls I met think that an Italian hunk with French accent is sexy. So you pretty much got the idea aite?

So ATR-72, the model of Firefly’s plane is made by ATR, Avions de Transport Régional (even the name is sexy!), a French-Italian aircraft manufacturer. Formed in 1981 by Aérospatiale of France (now EADS) and Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) of Italy, its primary products are the ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft.

As far as sexiness is concern, you can’t go wrong with the curves, the shape and design of an Italian+French designer. ATR-72 belongs to this line of sexy designs.

Sexy Italian Ferrari:

(Image from http://dentallasertraining.ca)

Sexy Paris and French Eiffel Tower:

Sexy ATR-72

(Image by FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, used with permission)

On ATR-72, Passengers are boarded using the rear door (which is rare for a passenger plane) as the front door is used to load cargo. This is one of the many unique designs of an ATR-72 aircraft.

Sexy! (No, I’m not referring to the stewardess… although they are not bad )
(Image by FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, used with permission)

b) Orange Glow

While the aircraft itself already have its sexy curvy elements, to have it painted in Firefly’s bright orange color just makes it even sexier. A pretty lady without makeup is already pretty, but to have it well dressed and well make-up makes the lady much more sexy and appealing.

I’ve run through the photo database of ATR-72 on Airliners.net and I still believe that Firefly’s livery is one of the most attractive indeed with it’s striking orange can be seen from 17,000 feet below. Orange in my opinion stimulates enthusiasm and creativity and also source of vitality and endurance.

c) ‘Sexy Dance in The Sky’

I have to admit that being in Malaysia most of my 27 years of living, I never had the privilege to see various types of airplanes. For many years when I grew up, a plane is always a jet mainly Boeing 737-400 and when the low-cost wagon hits Malaysia, the sky was even more crowded with jets of A320 and 737. So when Firefly began its operation in year 2007, I was excited to finally see turboprops flying above me.

If you always wonder how’s its like to be “flying”, the real sensation of flying, then a propeller aircraft like ATR-72 is for you. It gives you the feeling of ‘flying’ and not just buzzing from point A to point B on a jet plane.

(Image by FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, used with permission)

It’s hard for me to describe in words but the feeling of being gracefully in the air coupled with sweet sound of propellers is the real way of flying indeed. It might be the aerodynamics or whatever invention behind the ATR-72 but what matters is that it makes flying more natural, relax and makes you feel flying gracefully like a bird.

(Image by FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, used with permission)

d) Sexy Outside, Sexy Inside

Some wise man once said that the sexiness of someone lies on the inside of that person. Same goes for plane I guess. It’s both interior and exterior that determine its sexiness.

If you think the shape and design of Firefly’s ATR72 is sexy, what till you see what is inside.

(Image by FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, used with permission)

A nicely designed and well-maintained cabin with the right lighting for anytime of a day. I’ve been on a Firefly’s flight at every time of a day and I find it always a pleasure to step inside the cabin. Honestly, when the first time I flew on a prop aircraft which was the Fokker-50, I find the cabin with 4 seats to a row seating is a bit narrow and had the feeling of being in a small airplane but with this new ATR-72 the right curves and choice of colors and lighting has made the cabin seem to be roomier and more comfortable.

And the most important thing is the leather seat! What is sexier than something in leather?

These comfort seats are not cheap and I’m sure Firefly Airline had the choice to go with cheaper type of seats. But they’ve made some smart moves to go with these comfortable and sexy-looking seats and it does gives a more professional and elegant look compared to say a-multi-color ‘smarties’ seats I found on one of the airline

And the seat pitch is not bad.

I don’t have the exact figure but it’s comfortable enough for flights less than 2 hours even for an average Malaysian like me. I find it interesting that some Malaysians complained about a narrow seat-pitch on a short 1-hour flight but don’t say a word on an even cramped seat on a long 13-hour low-cost flight to London that they get cheaply. *sigh*

*****

There you go. A few good ’sexy’ reasons why you should go with Firefly Airline besides its affordable fares. Sexy is good. You can’t go wrong with sexy curves, color, shape, sound and a sexy inside.

In the next episode, I’ll be looking at the other reason why Firefly is my favorite airline, the convenience of flying from the spanking new and cool Subang Sky Park (formerly known as Subang Airport). In the third episode, I’ll be giving up some (of course not all la!) of my tricks in getting the best and cheapest deals out of Firefly! Stay tuned!

In the meantime, check out my past posts relating to Firefly by clicking here or visit my updated review on a full Firefly flight by clicking here