The orders included a memorandum of understanding with Doric Lease Corp. for 20 A380s, valued at $8 billion, a confirmation of an order by Lufthansa for 100 A320 family aircraft, valued at $10.4 billion, and a deal with lessor International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) for 50 A320neos, valued at $5 billion. All values are at list prices.
The manufacturer’s first media event of the show was a debrief on the first flight of the A350 XWB, which took place June 14 from Toulouse. Fernando Alonso, Airbus senior VP and head of the flight and integration center, was on the maiden flight and reported that it was a “totally uneventful” flight that ran exactly according to how the many hours of simulations had predicted. “It was a very successful first flight. To be honest, it was a little bit boring,” he said. “We would be ready to fly again today.”
However, Alonso explained that some time is needed between first and second flights to allow all the data from the flight to be analyzed. He made no comment on whether flight test program would permit the aircraft to conduct a flypast at the show.
The aircraft, MSN1, is the first of five aircraft that will ultimately join the flight test program. MSN3 will start flying from October while MSN2, the first cabin-configured test aircraft, will take to the air in early 2014 and MSN4 and 5 will join the program later the same year.
Alonso said MSN1 took off from Toulouse Airport with full thrust on both Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines then climbed to 10,000 ft where the crew did a quick test of all systems with landing gear still down, a standard practice with maiden flights. With feedback that everything was running according to plan, the gear was lifted and the aircraft climbed to up to 15,000 ft, staying between 10,000 ft and 15,000 ft for almost two-and-a-half hours.
“We explored all high lift configurations and got a feel of the airplane for any vibration or buffering. We didn’t feel anything,” Alonso said, adding that the A350 felt very much like other Airbus aircraft and the pilots “were perfectly at home with it within five minutes.”
The flight test rounded out with a climb to 25,000 ft. “We were absolutely impressed with the wing. If you think it’s beautiful on the ground, it’s even more beautiful in the air,” Alonso said, noting that all data correlated exactly as simulation models had predicted.
Because the flight was flawless, the crew also engaged the autopilot for five minutes—something not planned in the original test schedule. Descent was initiated in autopilot mode and the crew also performed a flypast at 500 feet for the crowds before landing after a flight of just over four hours.
“There were no failures from a system point of view. The log book is completely empty,” Alonso said. The way we have started is tremendous. One of the problems we have is not to get too confident. We have to stay alert and be careful.”
Immediately following the A350 debrief, Airbus COO Customers John Leahy began introducing customers with whom the company has signed new orders. ILFC CEP Henri Courpron led the field with a firm contract for 50 A320neos, bringing the lessor’s neo total firm orders to 100 aircraft. ILFC was the first lessor to commit to the neo and is Airbus’ largest customer, having ordered 769 aircraft.
Lessor Doric CEO Mark Lapidus then announced an MOU for 20 A380s. “For Doric, it’s a logical next step for an unrivalled product,” he said. “We believe there is a pent up demand just under the surface for this aircraft. Airbus got the size of this aircraft right. With 550 seats the economics are unbeatable. If anything, I think we are perhaps under-ordering.”
Lufthansa Group, meanwhile, firmed up a commitment announced in March for 35 A320neos, 35 A321neos and 30 A320ceos.
(Karen Walker - ATWOnline News)
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