A groundbreaking trial of a new ultra-long-range aircraft has propelled tests for potentially record-breaking flights from London to the east coast of Australia to a significant milestone. The Qantas Airbus, capable of staying airborne for an impressive 22 hours, embarked on its inaugural test flight from a French airport, marking the commencement of a two-month evaluation period.
Departing from Toulouse, the aircraft will undergo a thorough redesign by Qantas, which will involve the installation of four distinct seating configurations. This aircraft, the second of 12 A350-1000ULR planes commissioned by the airline, comes equipped with an additional fuel tank and upgraded refrigeration units for enhanced efficiency, enabling extended travel distances.
During the recent test flight, pilots and crew examined the new fuel system’s performance and conducted comprehensive performance assessments, with the extra tank boosting the aircraft’s range by 1,118 miles. Clocking in at three hours and 43 minutes, the test flight also saw the plane reaching altitudes exceeding 41,000 feet.
Qantas disclosed plans to unveil the first passenger flight route and schedule using the new aircraft later this month, following a delay in delivery due to supply chain challenges acknowledged by Airbus. These flights will mark the first non-stop connections from Australia’s east coast to London and New York, with the aircraft set to undergo around 80 hours of flight testing and rigorous ground checks before certification of newly introduced and redesigned components.
Subsequent to its refurbishment and repainting, the aircraft is scheduled for delivery to the airline in April, with four additional planes following in rapid succession. Qantas aims to reduce travel time for passengers, building on its current non-stop Perth-London flights lasting approximately 18 hours. Singapore Airlines currently operates the world’s lengthiest commercial flights, linking New York and New Jersey to Southeast Asia’s city-state.