Airbus is set to conduct the maiden flight of its A350F freighter from Toulouse-Blagnac on September 29, departing at 10:20 local time. The first test airframe, MSN700 (registration F-WXLD), completed two high-speed rejected-takeoff runs during final ground testing before clearance for flight. A crew of two pilots and three flight-test engineers will fly the sortie, which will assess aerodynamic performance, handling qualities and autopilot function.
The maiden flight opens a certification campaign expected to run roughly nine months and log around 400 flight-test hours across two A350F aircraft. Ground preparation at Toulouse included completion of the aircraft's wings and integration of its main-deck cargo doors — composite structures with electric actuation, positioned in the rear fuselage to help balance loading, measuring about 15ft (4.5m) wide and 14ft (4.3m) tall.
Airbus specifies a maximum payload of 111 tonnes (about 245,000lb) and a range of up to 5,400 miles (8,700km) for the freighter. Roughly 70% of the structure is carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, titanium and aluminum, which Airbus says makes the aircraft some 46 tonnes lighter than rival large freighters, with corresponding reductions in fuel burn and per-tonne operating cost.
The A350F is derived from the A350 widebody family, in service since 2015, sharing much of its airframe and systems with the passenger variants. Certification and entry into commercial service will follow completion of the flight-test program.
Source: Aerospace Testing International — read the original article