Aircraft
A350 First Flight Puts It On Approach to Service Entry
The Airbus A350’s first flight on the eve of this year’s Paris Air Show signals the start of a concerted push to achieve service entry for the delayed widebody in next year’s second half. (Photo: Airbus)
The Airbus A350’s first flight on the eve of this year’s Paris Air Show signals the start of a concerted push to achieve service entry for the delayed widebody in next year’s second half. (Photo: Airbus)

Airbus began the 2,500-hour flight-test program for the A350 XWB when the new long-range widebody took off for the first time at almost exactly 10 a.m. local time in Toulouse, France, on Friday. The eagerly awaited first flight over southwestern France lasted slightly more than four hours and the twinjet, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, touched down safely back in Toulouse at 2:05 p.m.