MSN5 flight prototype airbornes with a 8 hours First Flight

Airbus’s 5th and final A350 test aircraft has departed Toulouse on its maiden flight, taking the programme into the last stage of certification.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/46799619@N04/14484902163/lightbox/

The MSN5 aircraft has taken off at around 09:40h and has spent more than 8 hours in this First Flight before returning back to Toulouse.

Like MSN2 the aircraft is fitted with a full passenger cabin. Airbus says MSN5 "embodies the operationally definitive configuration for type certification duties".

https://www.flickr.com/photos/46799619@N04/14278017060/lightbox/

Airbus had originally expected MSN5 to fly earlier this year but the interior has been undergoing adjustments in preparation for the route work.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49477547@N04/14463522554/lightbox/

Airbus is to use the aircraft for cabin operability tests and route proving, as well as extended operations trials which will last around 300h in a flight program that is being defined -it would include Canada, Australia, USA and China- finalising the certification of the twin-engined type.

Based on the article “Last A350 test aircraft departs on maiden flight” published in Flight International