Airbus’s first A350-1000 remains on course for a maiden flight in the current quarter, as the test fleet nears completion.
The first A350-1000, MSN59, has been fitted with its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines while the second aircraft, MSN65, is being equipped with a full passenger cabin.
Airbus has painted the second -1000 in the ‘carbon composite’ livery which it previously applied to the cabin-equipped A350-900 test aircraft MSN2.
The second A350-1000 will be used for cabin and air system tests, as well as early long flights and route proving next year, says the airframer.
Airbus’s third example, MSN71, carries a similar colour scheme to MSN59.
The first aircraft will “soon undergo a preparatory phase of tests”, says the manufacturer, and is “on track” for a first flight in the fourth quarter.
By the end of September this year customers had ordered 195 A350-1000s. Qatar Airways is the largest customer, with orders for 37, with United Airlines just behind having ordered 35.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
