The first of Qantas’ Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft – designed for ultra-long-haul flights – reached a new milestone this week.
In a post on social media, the Australian flag carrier said engines were recently installed on the first production -1000ULR. The airline also shared pictures of the aircraft, now sporting a temporary livery that reads “Our Spirit flies further” and “Project Sunrise.”
“The first Airbus A350-1000ULR rolled out of the hangar in Toulouse this week, with its Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines fitted and ready to start final ground checks and a two-month flight testing campaign,” the post’s caption read.
Qantas’ Project Sunrise, which the -1000ULR was developed for, aims to connect the east coast of Australia with far-flung destinations around the world with a single flight. The first commercial Project Sunrise flights will link Sydney with New York and London, routes which currently require one or more stops along the way.
The ultra-long-range A350 will be able to fly for 22 continuous hours, made possible by an additional 20,000-liter fuel tank and enhanced operating systems.
The first -1000ULR, possibly the one that got its engines this week, is expected to be delivered to Qantas at the end of this year after completing testing.
