Airbus’s A350-1000 MSN071 test aircraft performed a ‘High and Warm’ flight test campaign to ensure aircraft and engine performance is doing well in high-altitude, warm and humid circumstances. The aircraft flew first to Bolivia before completing its tour in Colombia and then returning to Toulouse, France, after 10 days of flight and ground tests.
The flight test campaign took place at Cochabamba at an altitude of 8,300ft (2,350m), La Paz at 13,300ft (4,054m) and Barranquilla at sea level, with temperatures ranging between 8°C and 32°C. The aircraft took-off and landed numerous times at each airport to gather information.
Early test results show good performance and behavior of both the aircraft and its Trent XWB-97 engines. The A350-1000 is ready for high altitude operations from Entry Into Service later this year.
All three A350-1000 flight test aircraft (MSN059, MSN071 and MSN065) are occupied in the ongoing Type Certification campaign, during which the aircraft is exposed to extreme limits beyond what they should face during normal in-service operations.
