A350 XWB achieves 92 flight test hours in first month of test flights
Airbus reported (15-Jul-2013) the A350 XWB test aircraft (MSN1) performed well during the first 92 flight test hours already achieved since its maiden flight on 14-Jun-2013. The flight test campaign will total around 2500 flight hours with a fleet of five development aircraft. During the first four weeks of the flight test campaign, ten Airbus experimental test pilots have flown MSN1 and have collectively put the aircraft through its paces to get to know its handling qualities and behaviour. This early phase of test flights has resulted in the clearance of the entire flight envelope and initial testing of all key systems. MSN1 will now undergo routine maintenance and upgrades of its flight test installation to ready it for the second phase of the flight test campaign which will start in Aug-2013, while the design office will analyse the results of these initial flight tests. Entry into commercial service of the first customer aircraft is scheduled for 2H2014. To date, Airbus has recorded 678 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 34 customers worldwide. [more - original PR]