Posted inPrivate Aviation

A350 on track for mid-2013 test flights

Aircraft now having hydraulics tested, to be followed by full electric and hydraulic power-on.

by Staff Writer
PHOTO: Airbus unveils A350 tail fin
The vertical tail plane of the first flyable Airbus A350 XWB (MSN1) has just come out of the paint hall in Toulouse. This is the first A350 XWB component to be painted in the Airbus livery. The 10 metre tall, composite vertical tail plane is produced, as for all Airbus aircraft, at Airbus’ Stade site in Germany. The vertical tail plane

Airbus has successfully completed the main structural assembly and system connection of A350 XWB ‘MSN-001’ – the first flight-test aircraft.

The aircraft recently moved out of the main assembly hall (Station 40) at the recently inaugurated “Roger Béteille” A350 XWB Final Assembly Line in Toulouse. It then entered the adjacent indoor ground test station (Station 30).

The assembly work performed in Station 40 included the successful electrical power-on of the aircraft’s entire fuselage and wings. Soon, work in Station 30 will start by testing the aircraft’s hydraulic system, followed by the full electric and hydraulic power-on of the aircraft, which will be completed by around the end of the year.

This will mark the start of several weeks of comprehensive functional system testing.

After the A350 XWB MSN-001 exits station 30, the aircraft will go through a series of extensive production and certification / development tests, be painted and have its engines installed.

It will then be delivered to the flight-line and be readied for its first flight in mid-2013.

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