The Airbus A350 XWB flight test aircraft (MSN3) arrived at Singapore Changi Airport on the 10th of February 2014 for the Singapore Airshow where it will perform its first-ever airshow flying display on the 11th and 12th February.
On its way to Singapore, MSN3 passed the milestone of the first 1000 flight test hours for the A350 XWB program since the first flight with MSN1 on 14th June 2013.
Overall the five A350 flight test aircraft will fly 2,500 flight test hours in just over 12 months. This achievement is a further demonstration of the steady progress the program is making on its way to type certification in Q3 2014.
Airbus A350 XWB Singapore Debut
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| The Airbus A350 XWB at the Singapore Airshow |
MSN2 and MSN5 will be fitted with cabins and will carry out the Early Long Flights and Route Proving Flights later this year. MSN4 will be fitted with light flight test instrumentation and will perform external noise and lightning tests, avionics development and certification testing.
This aircraft will also be used to start the training for first customer pilots and maintenance teams.
Already during the first 1000 flight test hours, in January 2014, MSN 3 successfully completed high altitude trials in La Paz Bolivia and cold weather trials in Iqaluit, Canada.
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| Taking a tour inside the test Airbus A350 XWB in Singapore |
The new family, whose fuselage cross-section is optimized for full long-range passenger comfort in all classes, brings a 25 percent step change in efficiency compared with existing aircraft in this size category.
Conclusion
At the end of January 2014, the A350 XWB had won 814 orders from 39 customers worldwide. During the event here, Airbus will have a major presence at the Singapore Air Show with many airline companies coming to see the aircraft on display.
The A350 XWB will take center stage at the air show, being the main highlight as this is the much-awaited aircraft for many.