A350 XWB engine run

Airbus has announced that it has powered its A350 XWB (MSN1) airliner with Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines for the first time, following the start-up of the auxiliary power unit (APU).

This move completes a key step prior to the maiden flight of the next-generation Airbus A350 XWB jetliner.

The aerostructure of the A350 XWB is made primarily of composite materials such as carbon fibre-reinforced plastic, which provides more electrical resistance compared with an aerostructure comprising mostly of metallics, according to Airbus.

The Trent XWB engines with their low fuel consumption, combined with the A350 XWB’s lightweight structure and advanced aerodynamics, help reduce fuel burn by 25% compared with older long-range twin engines and also produce significantly lower CO2 emissions.

The A350 XWB is the mid-size long range product line which comprises three versions and will accommodate between 270 and 350 passengers in three-class layouts.

"The Trent XWB engines with their low fuel consumption help reduce fuel burn by 25% compared with older long-range twin engines."

In May, Airbus completed lightning strike testing for the A350 XWB at its Clément Ader facility in Colomiers, France.

The ‘electromagnetic hazard’ evaluations were conducted on the second A350 XWB flight test aircraft, MSN3, to demonstrate necessary protection levels in case of lightning strikes in-flight.

The testing included lightning strike simulations and follow-up measurements of induced voltage/current levels on selected harnesses.

The A350 XWB is scheduled to enter into service in second half of 2014 and has to date logged 616 firm orders from 34 customers worldwide.

Image: The A350 XWB is scheduled to enter into service in second half of 2014. Photo: courtesy of A Tchaikovsky / Airbus SAS.

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