First Airbus ultra-long-range A350 leaves final assembly
By Steve Creedy Wed Feb 28, 2018
The ultra-long-range A350 that will operate the world’s longest commercial service for Singapore Airlines has emerged from the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse.
The A350-900 Ultra Long Range will fly between Singapore and New York after it is delivered to the Singaporean carrier.
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Singapore previously operated non-stop services from its home base to New York and Los Angeles between 2004 and 2013 using the A340-500.
The ultra-long-range plane is also a contender for Project Sunrise, The Qantas competition for an aircraft capable of flying non-stop from Sydney to London.
It is pitted against the Boeing 777-8, which has seating for 365 passengers and a range of more than 8690 nautical miles (16,110 kms). Boeing has said it is tweaking the design of the plane to meet the Qantas requirements.
Singapore Airlines has ordered seven A350-900 ULRs, which have a modified fuel system that increases its fuel-carrying capacity by 24,000 litres to give it its extended range without the need for additional fuel tanks.
The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 280 tonnes and Airbus says it is capable of flying 9700 nautical miles (17,965kms) or 20 hours non-stop.
The first aircraft will undergo extensive ground tests ahead of the installation of its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and will then embark on a short flight test program to certify the changes made to the standard A350-900.
Airbus said the test phase would also measure aerodynamic improvements that include extended winglets.
There have been reports the plane will sport business and premium economy class but no economy seating, with one saying it will have 68 business seats and 94 in premium economy.
Singapore Airlines has ordered a total of 67 A350-900s, including the seven ULRs, and has already taken 21.
Airbus has 854 firm orders for the A350 family from 45 customers worldwide.
Qatar recently took delivery of the biggest version of the A350, the A350-1000.
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