Get FinancingAirbus A350-900ULR Takes Flight
Airbus recently kicked off a short flight test program for the ultra-long-range version of its A350 XWB (extra wide body) commercial airliner with the first flight of the A350-900ULR near its facilities in Toulouse, France. Airbus says the plane, based on the A350-900, will top all other commercial airliners in terms of flight range when it enters service later this year with launch partner Singapore Airlines.
“Unbeatable Economics”
The MSN 216’s short flight test program will reportedly only last only a few weeks. Airbus plans to use the program to certify various changes it made from the standard A350-900 to extend the A350-900ULR’s flight range, which Airbus cites as 9,700 nautical miles (nearly 18,000 kilometers). Among the changes Airbus has implemented is the inclusion of a modified fuel system the company says increases the aircraft’s fuel capacity to 6,340 gallons (24,000 liters) without requiring additional tanks. Airbus also plans to measure the aerodynamic benefits of the aircraft’s new, extended winglets.
Airbus states that with a maximum takeoff weight of 308.6 tons (280 metric tons), the ultra-long-range version of the A350 can fly more than 20 hours nonstop, thus combining “the highest levels of passenger and crew comfort with unbeatable economics for such distances.”
World’s Longest Commercial Service
Singapore Airlines has already ordered seven A350-900ULR aircraft, which it will reportedly use to provide nonstop flights between Singapore and U.S. destinations, including a nonstop flight from Singapore to New York. Airbus says this flight will be the “world’s longest commercial service.” Singapore Airlines has ordered 67 A350-900 aircraft overall and received 21. As of March, Airbus reports taking 854 firm orders for A350 XWB aircraft from 45 global customers.
In a standard three-class configuration, the A350-900 seats 325 passengers and offers an 8,100-nautical mile (15,000-kilometer) flight range. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 XWB models feature a CFRP (carbon-fiber reinforced plastic) fuselage and wings that Airbus says support lower fuel burn, easier and less costly maintenance, and enhanced resistance to corrosion. The company says that the plane’s combination of aerodynamic design, CFRP fuselage, and Rolls-Royce engines translate to “unrivalled levels of operational efficiency.”
Overall, Airbus manufactures aircraft in the A320, A330, A350 XWB, and A380 product families, as well as its ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jets) family of ACJ318, ACJ319neo, ACJ319, ACJ320neo, ACJ321neo, ACJ330neo, ACJ340, ACJ350XWB, ACJ380, and ACJneo corporate jets.
Controller.com has numerous pre-owned Airbus aircraft for sale, including ACJ319s, ACJ318s, A340s, and A330s, as well as Airbus H125 helicopters.
Source: Airbus
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