First Airbus A350-1000 Takes Shape

 

The first Airbus A350-1000, the stretched version of the A350XWB family aircraft, has emerged from the Roger Beteille Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France, moving on its wheels for the 1st time.The aircraft, MSN59, has spent one and a half months in the Station 40 in FAL. On April 14, the A350-1000 left its station-40 position and entered in the station number 30, where the initial ground testing of the aircraft systems takes place.

After that, the aircraft will moved out of the FAL to undergo complementary tests, painting, engine installation, cabin fittings and it will be finally handed over to the Flight Test Center.
This aircraft, one of three flight test aircraft to be built, will take to the skies for its maiden flight before the end of 2016, with delivery expected to occur in mid-2017.

According to A350 Blog, the 2nd A350-1000 (MSN65) has moved from Station 50 to Station 40 where the wings-to-fuselage join-up will be done.

So far, Airbus has won 181 A350-1000 orders from 10 customers. Launch customer is set to be Qatar Airways, which also was the launch customer for the -900 variant.