The A380 made its first flight in April 2005Aviation history will be made in London as the world's biggest passenger jet touches down at the world's biggest international airport.
The 555-seat Airbus A380 will fly from Berlin to Heathrow for its first UK visit, after taking a minor detour.
The 240ft long plane will dip its wings as it flies over the Airbus sites that designed and made them, at Broughton in North Wales and Filton, near Bristol.
It will undergo compatibility tests at Heathrow before flying out on Friday.
Aviation milestone
Heathrow operator BAA is spending £450m so that it is ready to handle the A380 when it starts making commercial flights later this year.
It's an efficient and clean and environmentally friendly aircraft, and it has lower fuel consumption per seat, and produces less noise and emissions than older aircraft.
The aircraft will be met at the airport's new £105m pier 6 at Heathrow's Terminal 3, and money has also been spent resurfacing runways, upgrading lighting and building new taxiways.
Developed by the European Airbus consortium for about £6bn, the A380 has been heralded as a major milestone in aviation history.
The jet maker has taken 159 firm orders for the plane from 16 carriers, including Singapore Airlines, which will make the inaugural commercial flight on its route between Sydney, Singapore and London later this year.
Airports Council International represents the world's airport operators and its spokesman, David Gamper, told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's an efficient and clean and environmentally friendly aircraft, and it has lower fuel consumption per seat, and produces less noise and emissions than older aircraft, and for airports it should increase their ability to handle passengers."
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