The A350 XWB MSN001 aircraft is structurally complete and shows the installed winglets, belly fairing panels, main landing gear doors.
Airbus reports that the aircraft has recently completed a series of indoor ground tests including stability tests on ‘movable’ elements such as rudder, elevators, ailerons and wing spoilers and landing gears extraction/retraction.
The next steps will take place outdoors and will include three planned families of tests: fuel tanks testing; pressure testing of the fuselage; and radio equipment testing.
- The Airbus A350 XWB structure is 53% composite-based, including wings and fuselage.The aircraft is scheduled to make its first flight in 2013. The A350 family will provide seating capacities from 250 to 400-plus passengers.