Airbus A350 makes its maiden test flight
Airbus has written another chapter in its 43 year history with the maiden flight of the A350 XWB, an aircraft that is made up of 52 per cent composite parts.
The aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, took off from Toulouse this morning and marks the beginning of a test campaign totaling around 2,500 flight hours with a fleet of five development aircraft.
According to Airbus flight testing will lead to the certification of the A350-900 variant by the European EASA and US FAA airworthiness authorities, prior to entry into service in the second half of 2014 with Qatar Airways.
The aircraft is made from 52 per cent composites, 7 per cent steel, 14 per cent titanium, 20 per cent AL, AL-Li, 7 per cent miscellaneous materials and is expected to use 25 per cent less fuel compared with other aircraft of its size category.
Click here for an in depth look at how Airbus built the A350 XWB.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36D4ne2gqus
Trent XWB engine facts
Source: Rolls-Royce
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