Airbus's new A350F freighter has completed its maiden flight, marking a major step in its bid to challenge Boeing's decades-long dominance of the large long-haul cargo market. The aircraft, the first of two test planes, flew for four hours and 10 minutes over south-west France.
First flight and test campaign
The windowless version of Europe's A350 long-haul jet was fitted with special flight-test instruments for the inaugural flight. During the sortie, which begins a nine-month test campaign, the crew carried out checks focused on verifying the aircraft's basic airworthiness, fundamental flying qualities, and ensuring basic systems performed as predicted, Airbus said.
Airbus engineers in Filton adapted the plane's landing gear and performed weight-saving analysis on the composite wing skins and spars. The wings were then assembled at the Airbus factory in Broughton, North Wales.
Capabilities and specifications
The A350F has a range of up to 8,700 kilometres and a payload of up to 111 tonnes, more than double that of the largest A350 in the Airbus family, and will be used on international long-haul routes. Made of over 70 per cent advanced materials, the freighter has a 46 tonnes lighter maximum take-off weight compared to competitor aircraft, according to Airbus.
The plane is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and has a reduced fuel burn of 40 per cent compared to rivals, Airbus said.
Orders and market share
At the end of August, the A350F had received 115 orders from 14 customers, including 10 from Etihad Airways. Airbus said it had captured up to 59 per cent market share in the large freighter category, up from zero in 2021.
Lars Wagner, chief executive of commercial aircraft at Airbus, said: "This maiden flight is a major milestone for the A350F and for our customers worldwide. As the latest development of our highly successful A350 platform, the A350F is a true game-changer for the air cargo market, combining unmatched operational flexibility, fuel efficiency, and range. I am immensely proud of the extraordinary dedication and hard work of all the teams who have made this achievement possible."
Leonard Rodrigues, vice president of cargo revenue at Etihad, who was in France to watch the maiden flight, said: "The A350 programme is the cornerstone of Etihad cargo's ambitious growth."
The second A350F prototype (MSN 701) is at an "advanced stage" of final assembly and will enter the paint shop in the next few weeks, Airbus added.
