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| A350 XWB has maiden flight. Airbus photo |
TOULOUSE, France -- An A350 flew for the first time Friday just days before the Paris Air Show in a maiden flight that went without a hitch. The jetliner took off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport for a flight that lasted four hours. The A350, fitted with a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine built specifically for the A350, will compete with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. Airbus hopes to have the plane certified for commercial flight in 12 to 13 months. (Sources: multiple, including
CNN,
Airbus,
Engadget,
Business Wire, 06/14/13) Gulf Coast note: The Trent XWB engine is tested at Rolls-Royce's outdoor test facility at Stennis Space Center, Miss. Previous:
RR XWB takes to skies;
Goodrich ships XWB thrust reverser;
Rolls engine testing booms at Stennis
