Last A320neo family variant takes to the skies.

The last of the A320neo family variants, an A319neo powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, took to the air on April 25 for its maiden test flight. The PW1100G-powered test aircraft, MSN6464, will perform an extensive test flight campaign with the aim of achieving certification in the fourth quarter of this year. The plane took off from Airbus facilities in Toulouse and flew for almost three hours with a crew of five. READ: Wheeling in the future of aerospace. The A19neo with  CFM Leap-1A engines was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency in December, 2018, after an intensive flight test program of more than 500 hours. The A319neo is the smallest version of the A320neo family and has a range of 3750 nautical miles. It can seat 140 passengers in two classes and as many 160 in a high-density layout with a range of up to 3750 nautical miles (6945kms). Its strong take-off performance makes it particularly suitable for challenging and remote airports. The corporate jet version of the A319neo, the ACJ319neo, also successfully completed a first flight this week in Hamburg, Germany.

The one hour 55-minute test flight starts a short flight-test program to verify features such as extra fuel tanks to give the plane intercontinental range. It is one of 14 corporate jet orders and commitments for A320neo aircraft and was built for German company K5 Aviation. It will be outfitted with VVIP cabin by Fokker Techniek in the Netherlands after delivery. The ACJ319neo has the ability to fly eight VIP passengers 6,750nm or for about 15 hours. Airbus says this brings much of the world into non-stop range. The A320neo family has attracted more than 6500 orders from some 100 customers since its launch in 2010. It delivers fuel cost per seat savings of 20 percent and a noise footprint that is 50 percent less than previous generation planes.