Photos: First flight of Asiana Airlines' first A380

by Devesh Agarwal

Korea's Asiana Airlines’ first A380 has successfully completed its maiden flight. The A380 flew from Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse, France to the aircraft manufacturer’s site in Hamburg, Germany, where it will undergo painting and cabin furnishing.

Asiana Airlines will become the twelfth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the second quarter of 2014. The airline has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its primary routes from Seoul to the United States.

Below are two high resolution photos from Airbus which you can right click and download.

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Second Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZB002 completes successful first flight

By BA Staff

The second Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner completed a successful 4-hour, 18-minute first flight. 

The airplane, known as ZB002, departed Paine Field in Everett, Washington State, USA, at 8:06 and landed at 12:24 local time at Seattle's Boeing Field.

As the only 787-9 test airplane to be fitted with elements of the passenger interior, ZB002 will test systems such as the environmental control system in addition to avionics and other aspects of airplane performance. Boeing has conducted a series of ground tests on the second 787-9 since its completion in late September.

With manufacturing of the 787-9 flight-test fleet complete, the first production 787-9 in final assembly and 137 flight-test hours to date, 787-9 development is on track. 787-10 development also is progressing as planned.

First delivery of the 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand is set for mid-2014. Twenty-six customers have ordered 396 787-9s, accounting for 40 percent of all 787 orders.

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Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner successfully completes first flight

by Devesh Agarwal

The second member of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family, the 787-9 successfully completed its first flight, beginning a comprehensive flight-test program leading to certification and delivery in mid-2014. The aircraft performed a 5-hour, 16-minute flight, taking off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington state, at 11:02 a.m. local time and landing at 4:18 p.m. at Seattle's Boeing Field.

Boeing 787-9, line number ZB001 registration N787EX, takes off for its first flight

The 787-9 has its fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8 which is flying with many airlines including Air India. The 787-9 will carry 40 more passengers an additional 300 nautical miles (555 kilometres).

787-9 Senior Project Pilot Mike Bryan and 787 Chief Pilot Randy Neville departed to the north. During the flight the reached an altitude of 20,400 feet (6,218 meters) and an airspeed of 250 knots, or about 288 miles (463 kilometers) per hour, customary for a first flight. The two Captains tested the aircraft's systems and structures, while on-board equipment transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team on the ground in Seattle.

Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, the first 787-9 will be joined in flight test by two additional airplanes, one of which will feature General Electric GEnx engines. The additional airplanes are in the final stages of assembly in Boeing's Everett factory.

Boeing says it is on track to deliver the 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand in mid-2014. Twenty-five customers from around the world have ordered 388 787-9s, accounting for 40 percent of all 787 orders. National carrier Air India has ordered 27 787-8s only, and no 787-9. Jet Airways has 10 787-8s on order with no purchase options (though it can shift these orders to other Boeing products).

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Bombardier CSeries flies for the first time

by Vinay Bhaskara

Earlier today at Montreal's shuttered Mirabel Airport (YMX), Bombardier's new CSeries jet flew for the first time today. The flight of CSeries flight test vehicle 1 (FTV1 - a CS100) was performed under perfect weather conditions in Montreal, and also represented the first flight for engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney's new PurePower geared turbo fan (GTF) engine.

The flight lasted two and a half hours, taking of at 9:55 am local time and landing again at 12:25 pm. It ended more than two weeks of constant speculation over the date of the CSeries' first flight as Bombardier battled unsuitable weather conditions in the Montreal area.

The flight was crewed by Captain Charles (Chuck) Ellis, Chief Flight Test Pilot, Bombardier Flight Test. He was joined by his colleagues, Capt. Andris (Andy) Litavniks and Andreas Hartono in the roles of First Officer and Flight Test Engineer respectively.

Captain Ellis had this to say about the first flight:

The performance of the CSeries aircraft was very impressive! We couldn’t have wished for a better maiden flight,....FTV1’s state-of-the-art flight deck was responsive and comfortable, and the aircraft handled exactly as expected. Overall, we had a very productive first flight and an excellent start to the flight test program.

During its first flight, the CSeries reached a height of 3,810 meters and an airspeed of 230 knots (426 km/hr). Several test were done in-flight including flap and landing gear retractions/extensions, in-flight maneuvers including a simulated landing, and validation of the flight control system.

Onlookers raved about how quiet the CSeries was on take off and landing, one of the benefits touted by Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney. A total of five CS100 test vehicles, in various stages of completion, will join the flight test program in coming months, and according to Bombardier, it will be months before acoustical testing is finished. The total flight test program is set to be around 2,400 hours.

The first flight is good news for the CSeries program, which has suffered under the weight of a long delay, rising costs (program cost is now projected at $4 billion, up from $3.5 billion), and strong competition from rival Embraer, whose E2 re-engine of its E-Jet family of aircraft has already won more than 100 orders after being offered for less than 3 months against 177 total orders for the CSeries after six years (63 CS100, 114 CS300).

The first flight of the CSeries and the Boeing 787-9 later this week will be the last major first flights for at least the next three years, until the A350-800, the 787-10, and the Embraer E2 all have their first flights in the 2016-2017 time frame.

The following video from Bombardier shows the take-off of the first flight.

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High resolution photos of South African Airways A320, French Air Force A400M, Turkish Air Force A400M

Courtesy Airbus S.A.S. some high resolution photos for your enjoyment.

South African Airways takes delivery of its first two A320s 'classic'. Enjoy the livery.

The French Air Force (Armee De L'Air) took delivery of the first A400M transporter.

Not high resolution. The first flight of the first A400M destined for the Turkish Air Force.

All images are courtesy and copyright of Airbus and are used under fair use.

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Video highlights of Airbus A350 AWB maiden flight vs. Boeing 787 first flight

In case you missed the first flight of Airbus' newest aircraft the A350 XWB on June 14th, below are the video highlights.



Compare with the first flight video highlights of the Boeing 787 3.5 years earlier, on December 15, 2009. Both flights picture perfect. The US airframer was gallant in congratulating its main competitor for its achievement.

We congratulate @Airbus on today’s first flight achievement.

— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) June 14, 2013

Have a great week ahead.

Videos courtesy Airbus S.A.S. and Boeing

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She Flies!!!!! Airbus A350 XWB first flight in pictures

Congratulations to the Airbus team. The A350XWB has taken-off on its maiden flight from Toulouse Blagnac airport in France. Till the official pictures come, a few screen shots from the streaming video from Airbus.

Awaiting behind the delivery flight of the Cebu Pacific A330

The Airbus wide-body flight line. Dominated by A330s and an A380. Compare the larger A350 with the smaller A330.

Getting ready to taxi to holding point on the runway. The chase plane, a SN-600 Corvette is on the adjacent exit.

The A350 with the Airbus flight line behind.

The chase plane readies for take-off.

At runway holding point.

All lined up.

Start the take-off roll

Lift-off!!!!!!

In the air. The flaps and landing gear are kept lowered till the basic flight manoeuvres are completed and the crew finds the aircraft configuration "clean".

In the air

Approaching runway 32L to land

Touchdown!!!!

Exiting the runway

Flight test engineer Pascal Verneau waves an Airbus flag to celebrate the completion of a successful first flight. 

Video feed courtesy Airbus

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Watch the Airbus A350 XWB first flight live

The Airbus A350 XWB is performing its first flight today, June 14, 2013. You can watch the video feed live.

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Official photo: Airbus A350 XWB takes-off on its first flight

The first official photo from Airbus S.A.S. showing A350 XWB MSN001 F-WXWB taking-off on her maiden flight.

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The Airbus A350 XWB journey - behind the scenes videos

by Devesh Agarwal

Ahead of the first flight of the Airbus A350 XWB a set of videos from Airbus which gives us behind the scenes explanations on some aspects of the aircraft design, development, testing, manufacturing, and hand-over to the flight testing crew who will fly the aircraft today.

Like the Boeing 787, the A350 XWB heavily relies on composite materials to lighten the airplane. This video explains the use of composites in the A350. It is largely in French so you will have to follow the sub-titles.



The Final Assembly Line (FAL) is where all A350 airframes are built including the MSN (Manufacturer's Serial Number) 5000 series which were used for static testing on the ground, and MSN001 which will fly later today, god willing, weather permitting.



Prior to any form of flight, the airframe is tortured using special static testing rigs. Observe how the wing is flexed to a deflection of over 5.3 metres (17.38 ft), that is almost two floors of a building.



The first flyable prototype MSN001 is fitted with the Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, the most powerful engine mounted on any Airbus airframe till date. Even more powerful than the Trent 900 engines on the A380; but then the A380 is powered by four engines, while the A350 is a twin jet.



The A350 XWB MSN001 is painted for flight.



After the first flyable prototype MSN001 is assembled, the manufacturing team turns the aircraft over to the flight test team, which accepts responsibility of the aircraft on behalf of the Engineering Division at Airbus. The flight test team then readies the aircraft and tests prior to the first flight.



MSN001 does not contain much of a passenger cabin. It is filled with mountains of test equipment.



The engines on MSN001 are powered up for the first time.



Fernando Alonso, who shares his name with the world champion Formula 1 Ferrari driver, joined Airbus in 1982 and is the head of Airbus Flight and Integration Test Centre. He will lead the flight test activities for Airbus.



Watch the A350 XWB first flight live.

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A new plane flies today - live coverage of Airbus A350 AWB first flight

The old adage is "God willing, weather permitting"........

If all goes well, we shall see the first flight of a brand new aircraft, the Airbus A350 XWB. Airbus indicates the A350 XWB first flight is planned for today, weather conditions permitting.

The A350 will be the first new commercial aircraft model, excluding variants of existing models, from the stables of the two behemoth airframers, Boeing and Airbus, in almost three and a half years.

The Boeing 787 made its first flight in December 2009. The last new aircraft from Airbus was the A380 double-decker super-jumbo which first flew in April 2005, over eight years ago.


The A350 XWB “MSN1” will take off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport at around 10:00 am local time (08:00Z, 13:30 IST). You can view live coverage on the special A350 first flight website starting from 07:00 UTC, 12:30 IST.

The A350 XWB is the all-new mid-size long range product line comprising three versions and seating between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts.

In the mean time, three videos for your enjoyment. One an accelerated timeline of MSN1 being assembled, the second, the painting of MSN1, and the third explains the Rolls Royce Trent XWB, the most powerful engine on any Airbus aircraft till date, even more powerful than those on the A380.

You can also see the A350 performing its taxi testing earlier this week prior to the first flight.

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PurePower 1100G-JM engine for A320neo conducts first flight

The Pratt & Whitney (PW) PurePower PW1100G-JM engine meant for use on the upcoming Airbus A320neo successfully completed its first flight May 15, launching the engine family’s flight test program.

Ironically, the engine which is meant for an Airbus aircraft flew on a Boeing aircraft. Pratt & Whitney’s 747SP flying test bed at the company’s Mirabel Aerospace Centre, in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada.

The engine was ground tested for 365 hours before being cleared for the first flight. Three additional engines are undergoing rigorous ground testing.

The PW1100G-JM engine is planned to be certified by the third quarter of 2014 with entry into service (EIS) planned for the fourth quarter of 2015.

The PurePower GTF (Geared Turbo Fan) engine family uses an advanced gear system allowing the engine’s fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine to reduce fuel consumption and noise.

Even in these early stages, testing has yielded an optimisation in the engine fan’s configuration. Airbus and PW agreed to simplify the propulsion system by removing the Variable Area Fan Nozzle (VAFN) from the A320neo nacelle after the fan blade demonstrated better performance across the flight spectrum.

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Airbus announces crew for A350 XWB first flight

Airbus S.A.S. has announced the six person crew which will go aboard the first flight of the first A350 XWB to fly, known as MSN1.

Two test pilots and the project test flight engineer will be seated in the cockpit:

• Peter Chandler, an Experimental Flight Test Pilot with Airbus since 2000 and Chief Test Pilot since 2011;
• Guy Magrin, an Experimental Flight Test Pilot with Airbus since 2003 and Project Pilot for the A350 XWB;
• Pascal Verneau, who has held various positions in Airbus’ flight test division since 1999 and is the A350 XWB Project Test Flight Engineer.

The three remaining first flight test crew members, all of them Experimental Flight Test Engineers, will be working at dedicated flight test stations and managing the progress of the flight profile in the main body of the aircraft:

• Fernando Alonso, Flight Test Engineer with Airbus since 1982 and Head of Airbus Flight & Integration Test Centre since 2007;
• Patrick du Ché, Flight Test Engineer with Airbus since 2001 and currently Head of Development Flight Tests since 2012;
• Emanuele Constanzo, Flight Test Engineer with Airbus since 2004 and lead Flight Test Engineer for the Trent XWB engine.

Airbus has also released the first edition of the new online Airbus A350 XWB Magazine.

Image courtesy and copyright Airbus S.A.S.

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Video: Airbus A380 - Historic events timeline and highlights - from first flight to 100th delivery

This video clip highlights key events leading up to the "century mark" A380 delivery -- including footage from the first flight, its certification campaign, customer deliveries and more.



Read more about the 100th delivery here.

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First production Airbus A400M transporter makes its maiden flight

The first production Airbus Military A400M airlifter has made its maiden flight, marking a key milestone towards its delivery to the French Air Force. The aircraft, MSN7, took off from Seville, Spain, at 11:48 local time (10:48Z) and landed back in Seville 5 hours and 42 minutes later.

Experimental Test Pilot Hugues Van Der Stichel, captained the flight.

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Video: Vintage collection of Concorde first flights and construction

by Devesh Agarwal

Over the weekend, 2nd March to be specific, was the 44th Anniversary of the maiden flight of Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde 001 back in 1969.

Concorde entered service in 1976, and flew the elite of the world, till British Airways and Air France, ceased service on October 24, 2003. Construction of the first prototype began in February 1965. Built by Aerospatiale at Toulouse, Concorde 001 F-WTSS made its first test flight from Toulouse on 2 March 1969, piloted by André Turcat. The second prototype was built in Filton, Bristol in April. The two prototypes were presented to the public for the first time at the Paris Airshow, on 7 and 8 June 1969.

Five years ago, I bemoaned the loss of Concorde, and wrote my eulogy to this magnificent flying machine.

Even today, "the giant leap backwards" continues. Ten years after its retirement, there is no plane, even planned, as a replacement for this magnificent flying machine.

Here is are some videos of those first flights.



For more videos of the first and last flights of Concorde, and some in between, read here.

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GoAir takes delivery of its first Airbus A320 fitted with Sharklets

Just a day after, IndiGo took delivery of its first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets, Wadia Group owned GoAir, has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped A320, registration VT-GOL.

VT-GOL is the 14th aircraft delivered from a 20 A320 classic engine option (A320ceo) order placed in 2006. Just like IndiGo, all subsequent A320 deliveries to GoAir will be equipped with Sharklets. In 2011 GoAir also placed an order for 72 A320neo (new engine option).

The aircraft is financed by ACG (Aviation Capital Group) under a sale and leaseback arrangement, and is powered by CFM engines.

Giorgio De Roni, GoAir CEO said

“We already operate one of the youngest and most fuel efficient aircraft fleets anywhere in the world and the introduction of the Sharklet will add further efficiency. Our investment in the every latest technology like Sharklets, and also the A320neo, is a demonstration of our commitment to our customers and to the growth of our valued airline,”

Due to the very strong customer demand for Sharklets, all Airbus’ single-aisle final assembly lines (FALs) will be engaged in building A320 Family aircraft with Sharklets. These FALs are located in Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany) and Tianjin (China) and will soon be followed by an additional A320 FAL in Mobile, Alabama (USA).

Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and offer operators the option of an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms. Sharklets are standard on all members of the A320neo Family.

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Indian Air Force's first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III enters flight testing

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifter (tail number CB-8001) has been delivered by Boeing, on schedule, for flight testing.

Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. CB-8001

The first of the 10 airlifters ordered, now enters a U.S. Air Force (USAF) flight test program at the famous "The Right Stuff" Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, California, USA. This particular aircraft completed the 'major join' of its fuselage about six months ago.

These C-17's were ordered by the Indian government under the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. In effect it is the US government that is selling these planes to India, hence Boeing's delivery to the USAF. India's Ministry of Defence signed an agreement with the U.S. government on June 15, 2011, to acquire 10 C-17 airlifters, making India the largest foreign C-17 customer. The governments finalised the Foreign Military Sales contract for the airframe on June 6, 2012.

Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh, Air Attaché at the Embassy of India said

"The C-17 met the stipulated airlift requirements of the Indian Air Force when it flew field evaluation trials in India during June 2010," "It was exciting to see the C-17 fly again, this time with Indian Air Force markings, as the airlifter completed its first-flight milestone on Jan. 11. We look forward to the day that the first IAF C-17 flies over India."

After completing its flight trials and IAF acceptance trials, the first C-17 will arrive in India in the late summer of this year.

Boeing confirms, it is on track to deliver four more C-17s to the IAF this year and five in 2014. Boeing will support the IAF C-17 fleet through the Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP) Performance-Based Logistics contract.

A Boeing spokesperson confirmed that a USAF C-17 would come for the AeroIndia 2013 show, but not the IAF aircraft.

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Cebu Pacific flies past IndiGo and GoAir with second global A320 with Sharklets

by Devesh Agarwal

Low cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air beat out India's IndiGo and GoAir, to become the second operator, globally, when it took delivery of its first A320 equipped with Sharklets today during a ceremony in Manila, Philippines.

The first ever A320 with Sharklets was delivered to Malaysian low cost carrier, AirAsia, late last year.

India's IndiGo and GoAir will complete the procession of Asian low cost carriers to operate the A320 Sharklet when they take delivery of their aircraft later this quarter.

IndiGo's A320 Sharklet aircraft serial number MSN 5437 which will become VT-IFH (see photo and read story), and GoAir's A320 Sharklet MSN 5463 which will become VT-GOL (see photo) both had their first flights on January 15th.

In an exclusive interview with Bangalore Aviation, GoAir CEO Giorgio Di Roni had indicated GoAir might be the first Indian carrier to operate the A320 Sharklet. With the neck and neck progress, GoAir might even just pip IndiGo to the post.

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices allowing airlines to reduce fuel burn by up to 4% on longer sectors. Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. Cutting airlines’ fuel bills by around four percent, Sharklets offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing increased payload capability of up to 450 kilogrammes.

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IndiGo will be first operator in India to receive A320 with Sharklets. Update 1 - First flight conducted

by Devesh Agarwal

A week ago, Airbus S.A.S. rolled out an A320 aircraft serial number MSN 5437 from its assembly line. This aircraft is destined to become Indian budget carrier IndiGo's first 'Sharklet' equipped A320 VT-IFH, and when delivered only the second airline aircraft in the world to be fitted with the new fuel saving large wing-tip device.

Photo copyright Gerd Bielfuss. Used with permission. Do not copy or reproduce.

Sharklets are Airbus' answer to the large wing-tip devices already found on the Boeing 737NG family i.e. 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900ER.

'Sharklets', so named, since they resemble the dorsal fin of a shark, are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 metres tall and are designed to reduce fuel burn and emissions by improving the aerodynamics of the aircraft significantly. Over a longer flight, they are expected to improve fuel burn by 3.5% - 4%. Sharklets offer airline-operators the option of enhancing the performance of their A320s, either by adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing increased payload capability of up to 450 kilogrammes.

The first 'Sharklet' equipped A320 was delivered to Malaysian low cost carrier, AirAsia, less than a week ago on December 21. (Click here to see a video).

Hopefully we shall see VT-IFH grace the Indian skies in January.

Update 1 - January 17, 2013.

MSN 5437 conducted its first flight successfully on January 15th.

Photo copyright Gerd Bielfuss. Used with permission. Do not copy or reproduce.

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