Airbus is approaching the first flight of its A350F test aircraft after completing cargo loading-system checks, main-deck cargo door tests and pressure tests with systems installed. The programme’s first test jet, MSN700, has already finished ground vibration testing and is next in line for handover to the flight-test team as Airbus prepares the freighter for certification work in 2027.
The company is planning a flight-test campaign of roughly 400 hours, with EASA pilots and flight-test engineers due to take part in the certification phase. The initial flight will be conducted in Direct Law, a basic manual-control mode, because part of the aerodynamic model has not yet been fully verified. Airbus is building a second test aircraft, MSN701, behind the lead prototype, while the first flight remains the key step before the programme moves into full airborne testing.