According to Reuters, there is a chance that the Airbus A350 could make a surprise turn at the Paris Air Show 2013.
The indications are that due to the limited time in the air if it makes it airborn and passes checks is that the Airbus A350 MSN1 will conduct a flypast and not a landing.
The confidence in the ranks that the A350 is flight ready is growing, with a predicted first flight in mid June – which gives a VERY tight window to show the plane off at the Paris Air Show – that is due to take place between the 17th-23rd June at Le Bourget.
The indications are that due to the limited time in the air if it makes it airborn and passes checks is that the Airbus A350 MSN1 will conduct a flypast and not a landing. However, Le Bourget isn’t that far away from Toulouse to conduct a test flight sortie if to steal an airshow.
However much a publicity flight would be a wonderful thing, it will be up to the test pilots and the engineers to give the plane the all clear for its maiden flight – not the marketing people thankfully.
Rumours are about that there has been extra paintwork on the belly of the plane (I’ve been trying to find evidence to match with this, and so far have come up blank)
Airbus of course not commented further on the début and first flight of the A350.
35 customers which have already placed orders for 617 A350’s of different configurations, with Eithad being the launch customer.