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Airbus handed over its  rst A350-1000 to

launch customer Qatar Airways at a special

event in Toulouse, France, on February 20.

The aircraft, registration A7-ANA, was  own

to Qatar Airways’ home at Doha the following

d ay.

The Middle East-based operator, which

has ordered 39 A350-900s and 37 A350-

1000s, will bene t from the signi cant

commonality between the two aircraft

types that share 95% of system parts and

the same type rating, allowing airlines to

efficiently operate both A350 XWB variants.

The A350-1000’s fuselage is 23ft (7m)

longer than its smaller brethren, providing

greater capacity – 40 more seats in a typical

three-class cabin con guration. The A350-

1000 has the new Qsuite seats, offering

double beds in business class.

Just over a week later, on February 28,

Airbus rolled the  rst Ultra Long Range

version of the A350 XWB off its  nal

assembly line in Toulouse. The latest variant

of the A350 XWB Family will enter service

with launch operator Singapore Airlines later

this year.

Altogether, Singapore Airlines has

ordered seven A350-900 Ultra Long Range

aircraft, which it will use on non-stop  ights

between Singapore and the US, including

the world’s longest commercial service

between Singapore and New York.

Following completion of the airframe

assembly, the  rst aircraft (construction

number 216) has now moved to an outdoor

station where it will undergo extensive

ground tests, prior to installation of its Rolls-

Royce Trent XWB engines.

The aircraft will then embark on a short

 ight test programme to certify the changes

over the standard A350-900 that will bring

the additional range capability. These

include a modi ed fuel system that increases

carrying capacity by 24,000 litres, without

the need for additional tanks. The test phase

will also measure enhanced performance

derived from aerodynamic improvements,

including extended winglets.

To date, Airbus has a total of 854  rm

orders for the A350 XWB from 45 customers

worldwide.

Singapore Airlines is one of the largest

buyers of the A350 XWB family, having

ordered a total of 67 A350-900s, including

the seven Ultra Long Range models. The

carrier has already taken delivery of 21

A350-900s.

Turkish Aerospace Industries’ Hürkus-B

prototype 17-101 made a successful  rst  ight

from the company’s Ankara facility on January

29. The initial air test signalled the start of

some 90 hours of trials work to assess its

engine, avionics and  ight characteristics.

Hürkus-B is  tted with full multifunction

glass cockpit displays, BAE Systems’

LiteHUD lightweight head-up display in the

front cockpit and Martin-Baker’s Mk.T16N

ejection seats.

Ankara has ordered 15 examples for the

Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (Turkish Air Force),

with options on a further 40.

TAI President and Chief Executive

Officer Dr Temel Kotil said: “Hürkus-B is

100kg lighter, faster, more modern and

stronger than Hürkus-A. This version has

a more stable and comprehensive design.”

Hürkus-A is a civilian aircraft, but Hürkus-B

was built speci cally for the armed forces.

Another version, the Hürkus-C, is being

developed for use as a military counter-

insurgency platform.

The  rst A350-1000  ying

alongside an A350-900.

(c) Airbus 2018 – P

Masclet/master fi lms

First A350-1000 Delivered

4

HEADLINES

Turkey’s Hürkus-B Makes Progress

The Hürkus-B prototype on the move at

Ankara on January 29. TA I

Aviation News incorporating Jets April 2018

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