Airbus has commenced flight testing for the A350-1000ULR aircraft configured for Qantas Airways' Project Sunrise, marking a key milestone for the ultra-long-range initiative.
The test flight took place on Tuesday afternoon in Toulouse, France, lasting nearly four hours.
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Testing Campaign Underway
The campaign will span two months, with the aircraft completing around 80 hours of flight testing.
Extensive on-ground checks and certification of new and redesigned components are also planned.
An Airbus spokesperson confirmed the initial test flight reached an altitude above 41,000 feet during its three hours and 43 minutes in the air.
The aircraft is the second of 12 planned A350-1000ULR units for Qantas.
Key modifications include an extra fuel tank that extends the range by 1,800 kilometers, along with lighter and more efficient refrigeration units for extended flights.
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A new galley air cooling system will also be certified.
Qantas plans to use these aircraft for the first non-stop commercial flights between Australia's east coast and destinations like London or New York.
The first delivery is expected in April 2027, with subsequent aircraft arriving quickly to meet the original deployment schedule by November.
The second A350-1000ULR, which is the first scheduled for delivery, is at an advanced stage of final assembly and will soon exit the paint shop.
It will then undergo cabin completion and engine installation.
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Qantas is currently training pilots for the new fleet using specialized flight simulators in Sydney.
