As the Airbus A350 project continues apace, the third Airbus A350 has rolled out of the Toulouse factory, in a rather fetching paint job:
Frame MSN2 under tow – Image – Airbus.
The 3rd A350 being rather reflective – Image – Airbus SAS.
The paintwork is a nod to the carbon fibre composite materials used in the Airbus A350, showing the braiding of composite tape used.
MSN2 will have an important part to play as part of the test flight cadre of aircraft, as this A350 will be one of two configured with a full passenger cabin as opposed to masses of test instrumentation that is installed on the other test A350s.
The aircraft will be the first A350 to carry passengers when it undertakes Early Long Flights later this year.
For Airbus, these tests and roll-outs have to go well – as their first customer, Qatar Airways will be expecting an entry into service in Q2 2014.
Considering we’re now in Q1 2014, that’s 6 months tops…
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