Project Sunrise test flight smashes records

Flight AIB35LR became the second most tracked in history, with over 3.6 million views on FlightRadar24, and saw two sunrises and sunsets as it crossed two oceans and three continents.

Its flight path took it northeast across the Pacific Ocean and the International Date Line, before tracking north over the US and Canada, then over Greenland, Iceland and the UK before arriving back in Toulouse.

“To manage fatigue during the 20 to 23-hour flights we implemented four-hour shifts for each pilot, but we rotated the crew every two hours,” said Airbus test pilot Xavier Pepin.

“This staggered approach ensures that when a new pilot joins the cockpit, they overlap for two hours with the outgoing pilot. This facilitates a thorough handover and maintains full situational awareness.

“Additionally, for the second flight leg, at least one Airbus test pilot was always seated in a pilot seat when a Qantas pilot was in the other seat to ensure mission safety, as Airbus holds responsibility for the operation. We have applied this same structure to manage rest periods effectively.”

According to Airbus, the main purpose of the tests were to demonstrate that the plane could perform a 23-hour “block time” flight – from brakes off to brakes on – to cover the required 21-hour 40-minute flight time with room for holding, diversion and taxi.

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“In particular, the mission also serves to validate cabin comfort through air conditioning (ATA Chapter 21) measurements and fuel management systems (ATA Chapter 28), particularly the additional rear center tank (RCT) – with a 20,900 litre fuel capacity – which enables ultra-long-range (ULR) flights to cover a distance of almost 10,000 nm,” the planemaker said.

The ULR’s new twin Flight Crew Rest Compartment (FCRC) was also evaluated, with Pepin saying all test points were covered on the two trips.

“Whilst we have already demonstrated much of the RCT’s functionality earlier in the flight test campaign, we finalised some remaining test points in these long-range flights,” he said.

“We filled this tank to validate all necessary parameters during the mission, making this, along with cabin comfort, the primary focus of our testing.

“During the first leg we also made use of the time (the flight lasted approximately 20 hours) to stabilise various air temperature settings to ensure accurate measurements.

“So, while much of the testing goals were already tackled on the outward leg, the second leg addressed any backup test points that were not completed during the first leg.”

Airbus is evaluating the data with relevant authorities to confirm a possible world record.