A pair of flight-ready engines have been installed on the first Airbus A350 XWB test aircraft as the aircraft maker prepares to commence flight testing in the coming months.
The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines have been installed alongside a Honeywell HGT1700 auxiliary power unit at Airbus’ production facilities in Toulouse, France. With that done, A350 XWB MSN001 becomes “essentially a ‘completed’ aircraft,” Airbus said in a statement. The aircraft will be handed over to the Airbus Flight Test team following ongoing ground tests and other preparations, including painting. Flight tests are expected to commence during the northern hemisphere summer, Airbus said.
The new Trent XWB engines received Engine type certification from the European safety regulator last month. The engines have already powered a series of flight tests on Airbus’ A380 Flying Test Bed aircraft since early 2012.
