Aviation enthusiasts looking to get a glimpse of the Airbus A350 when it touches down in Sydney next week will need to set their alarms for an early start.
A350 MSN005 is due to arrive at 0600 on Tuesday, August 5, from Johannesburg, and will remain on the ground at Mascot until 1400.
At that time, the aircraft, which is undergoing route proving flights as part of the A350’s type certification program, will head for Auckland, where it was expected to land at 1900.
New Zealanders have until 1500 on Wednesday, August 6, to get a look at Airbus’s newest aircraft before it jets off for Santiago in Chile.
On a separate trip, the A350 test aircraft is scheduled to come to Perth between August 9 and August 13 as part of a Toulouse-Doha-Perth-Doha-Moscow-Helsinki-Toulouse routing. Exact arrival and departure times were unavailable at the time of writing.
Airbus has said previously certification of the aircraft was on track to be completed by the third quarter of calendar 2014, with first delivery to launch customer Qatar Airways due by the end of 2014.
“These route proving tests are designed to demonstrate readiness for airline operations and will include high airfield performance, auto-landing trials, and airport turnaround and handling services,” Airbus said in a statement.
Ben Cambridge
says:The ETA for the A350 into Perth is currently scheduled to be 3PM on Saturday August 9, and departing Sunday August 10 at 11PM according to slot allocations.
David Carter
says:Shame I will not be on hand. I would like to see if the A350 is as angular and unattractive as photos suggest. It seems to owe more to the ugly VFW614 than the lovely Airbus A330 in its character. Even the bandit mask painted around the cockpit windows can’t disguise their awkwardness. What is ironic that the Boeing 787’s beautiful nose shape contains more than a hint of the delightful Caravelle, which was designed and built in Toulouse. Yes, I know the Caravelle used the Comet’s nose but it was refined with more glass.
Ray
says:David, I think you are mixing the B787 with the A350 as I think the opposite is correct. 🙂 I guess we all have our own personal tastes, it’s just that not everybody’s is correct like mine. LOL
Rodney Marinkovic
says:definitely most advance aircraft to landing on Sydney Airport. Airbus A350XWB!.
Matt
says:The 787 is definitely way more attractive than the A350. The wings on the A350 just makes it look strange where as the 787 looks slick.
maate
says:The a350xwb and the 787 they will be just the right aircraft to operate from a Wellington airport extended runwa.y
Bunumuring
says:I want to send both the 787 and the A350 onto the new Channel 7 show “Bringing Sexy Back” to make them look as good as their initial proposals were before launch – especially the dolphin tail for the 787! Cheers!