The A-350F freighter (MSN 700), the first of two test aircraft, has completed its maiden flight. The airplane, fitted with special flight test instrumentation, flew for 4 hours and 10 minutes reaching an altitude of 25,000 feet. The plane was flown by a dedicated Airbus Flight Test crew. 

The second prototype (MSN 701) is now at an advanced stage of final assembly and will enter the paint shop in the next few weeks. 

During this inaugural flight, the crew carried out tests focused on verifying the basic airworthiness, fundamental flying qualities, and ensuring basic systems perform as predicted. This marks the start of an over 9 months flight test campaign.

Designed to be the world's most advanced cargo aircraft, the A-350F meets the evolving demands of the global air freight market. Thanks to a range capability of up to 8,700 kilometres and a payload of up to 111 tonnes, it will allow operators to deploy it on international long-haul routes. Made of over 70% advanced materials, the model is resulting in a 46 tonnes lighter Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) compared to other aircraft.