Airbus confirms timing for A350 XWB first flight

Airbus confirmed (11-Jun-2013) the A350 XWB first flight is planned for 14-Jun-2013, based on current visibility of the programme and the flight test status. Weather conditions permitting, the A350 XWB test flight aircraft 'MSN1' will take off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport at around 10:00 local time. The A350 XWB flight test teams are now carrying out the last checks on the first test flight A350 XWB before they give their final green light for the first flight to take place. Recent pre-first flight tests successfully carried out include the first power up of the fuel efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines on MSN1, which took place on 02-Jun-2013. Scheduled for entry-into-service in 2H2014, the A350 XWB has already won 613 firm orders from 33 customers worldwide. [more - original PR]