The third and final Airbus A350-1000 testing prototype took its first flight on February 7 from Toulouse Blagnac Airport in France. This marked a milestone in the program which is hoping to rack up 1,600 flight hours in 10 months in its campaign to gain certification by the end of 2017.
Only this third flight test aircraft, MSN065, will be equipped with a full passenger interior to enable it to be used for evaluating cabin systems and to provide data on long flights and conduct route proving.
The MSN065 flight follows on from late November’s first flight of the first flight test aircraft, MSN059, which will explore the flight envelope, handling, loads and braking. The second flight test aircraft, MSN071, will also test braking and the engine systems as well as the autopilot’s performance.
Pic: Copyright Airbus 2017 / photo by JV Reymondon
February 8, 2017
