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The A350 XWB on display at the 2014 ILA Berlin Air Show in Germany, which bears the logo of launch customer Qatar Airways, touches down at Berlin Schönefeld Airport
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The A350 XWB is proving itself in flight evaluations leading to certification this year
Airbus is continuing the “no surprise” flight programme for its A350 XWB, with more than 1,700 hours logged in preparation for certification later this year – clearing the way for deliveries to customer airlines.
The Airbus A350 XWB’s ability to operate on wet runways was demonstrated during successful water ingestion tests conducted at Istres, France
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Airbus’ MSN2 developmental aircraft – the first-ever A350 XWB to visit the United States – prepares for extreme weather testing at the McKinley Climatic Lab in Florida, USA
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A350 XWB first visit in the UK
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The A350 XWB’s 220-inch fuselage cross-section provides for the widest seats of any jetliner in its category
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A350 MSN2 Test Cabin Flight Test – Business Class Night
The A350 XWB cabin design – with its smooth curves, flowing lines, innovative lighting and wide windows – helps create a pleasant and soothing atmosphere for business class travellers
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A350-MSN4-MSN2-001
The number of flying A350 XWB developmental aircraft doubled from two to four on 26 February 2014 with the simultaneous maiden flights of MSN2 and MSN4 in France
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A350 XWB MSN2 in flight – 2
MSN2, Airbus’ first A350 XWB flight test aircraft to feature a full cabin, soars above the clouds on its high-profile maiden flight performed from Toulouse, France
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A350 XWB MSN4 maiden flight – 1
The A350 XWB MSN4 developmental aircraft’s maiden flight – performed 26 February 2014 in France – was piloted by M. Scheuermann
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Singapore Airshow – A350 XWB departure 5
During its headline-making appearance at the Singapore Airshow, Airbus' A350 XWB was visited by airline customers, pilots, industry executives, the media and others, while also participating in the air show’s daily flying display
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A350 XWB MSN2 ROLL OUT PAINTHALL-6
Pictured in MSN2’s signature “Carbon” livery, the A350 XWB wing applies state-of-the-art aerodynamics for overall efficiency and performance
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One of the four A350 XWBs currently involved in the programme took a brief time-out to join opening day ceremonies at this week’s ILA Berlin 2014 Air Show, and then departed for the continuation of its work. A fifth aircraft is being prepped to join the test and certification effort, with its maiden takeoff planned in the coming weeks.
The A350 XWB is living up to expectations as the developmental aircraft are being put through their paces, according to Wolfgang Absmeier, an Airbus experimental test pilot who has been fully involved in the A350 XWB’s flight test programme.
“One of the surprises with this ‘carbon airplane’ is that we’ve had no surprises,” Absmeier explained. As an example, he noted the critical flutter testing – to which every new aircraft is subjected, determining the dynamic aeroelasticity – was performed within one week for the A350 XWB, compared to six weeks for the A380.
With over 70 per cent of the A350 XWB’s weight-efficient airframe composed of advanced materials combining composites (53 per cent) titanium and modern aluminium alloys – the A350 XWB is setting new standards for commercial airliners.
Among the many flight programme milestones achieved to date are the validation of the advanced high-lift devices on the A350 XWB’s highly efficient wings, measurement of the aircraft’s noise footprint in the vicinity of airports, runway water injection trials, icing tests and high-altitude airport operations in Bolivia.
This activity is supported by extensive ground-based and flying testbed resources – ranging from the “iron bird” for systems integration to test rigs for the cabin, fuel circuits and the landing gear. More than 13,200 cumulative hours have been logged on these “zero test” means.
Quelle: Airbus4630 Views