Ok - it does show that at the moment AB is having to be flexible to work around schedule issues as it was definitely planned to have engine (expensive item) fitted after the frame was painted.

MSN 87 LH #3 has been handed over to LH:

https://twitter.com/lufthansaNews/statu ... 7826402305

http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/a-man- ... cture.html

The airline is also due to take delivery of the larger A350-1000, but it has not yet decided how to deploy them, said Al Baker. “We need to see the weight and range of the aircraft. It may be heavy. It may have payload issues.” In general, however, it will be earmarked for ultra-long sectors.

Is this just a general "lets wait and see" statement from AAB or does airbus have a weight problem on the -1000? Bregier appeared quite confident with the performance during the annual briefing so perhaps AAB just being cautious about potential route discussions.

ap305 wrote:

Is this just a general "lets wait and see" statement from AAB or does airbus have a weight problem on the -1000?.

Oh nothing new about U turn Al.
Article mentions that QR is missing 7 359 frames, cause AB is late in deliveries, but facts are little different

Looks like MSN 85 CX #13 is getting ready for its delivery flight:

https://fr24.com/CPA3334/ce6fe8c


13th Airbus A350 Cathay Pacific B-LRN by Jujug Spotting, on Flickr

MSN 97 (Finnair #8) taking off on its second CAF (AIB04FQ) just ahead of the departure MSN 85 (Cathay #13) to HKG.

ZEDZAG wrote:

ap305 wrote:

Is this just a general "lets wait and see" statement from AAB or does airbus have a weight problem on the -1000?.

Oh nothing new about U turn Al.
Article mentions that QR is missing 7 359 frames, cause AB is late in deliveries, but facts are little different

If U Turn wants to be the launch customer he gets great prices but he also has the possibility of overweight frames.

One has to admire the test pilots, I have just been looking at FR24 trace on last nights noise trials in Seville. They lasted 4hours 29 minutes of intensive low altitude precsion circuits numbering probably close to 40 or more! And all night flying, completed in the early hours. Thse threads place very heavy emphasis by contributors on colour schemes and delivery schedules, not unnaturally given thread title, however possibly we need to give more recognition to the crews and technicl support teams(flying with them and processing data on the ground) involved in the vital certification role followed by yet more intensive flying as the aircraft, its components, supporting software and numerous design teams who refine and develop the product. And what a product ....SQ SFO rotations have virtually been flawless ...the aircraft flying an average of 32 hours round trip with a 2.5 hour turnaround! That pattern is common among all A350 operators. Well done AB and RR plus their many partners.

hkcanadaexpat wrote:

MSN 97 (Finnair #8) taking off on its second CAF (AIB04FQ)

=>


8th Airbus A350 Finnair OH-LWH by Jujug Spotting, on Flickr

Finnair gets its A350 simulator

https://twitter.com/Finnair/status/847777137666949120

https://twitter.com/Finnair/status/847734081584377856

https://twitter.com/Finnair/status/847784826853871616

MSN 87 (Lufthansa #3) departing to FRA as LH 9921 (D-AIXC). Delivery #12 for the year. Was contractually delivered in March.

I suspect that MSN96 was also contractually delivered in March.

MSN 96 going home today:

Airbus A350 -941 96 9V-SML Singapore Airlines delivery 01apr17 TLS-SIN ex F-WZFG

And MSN 97 got its final registration applied after the second CAF yesterday:


Delivery center A330 Ibéria A350 LH XC A350 Finnair by theo franchi, on Flickr

Still don't see Qatar birds leaving for home, whats the latest excuse from comical Ali?

BoeingVista wrote:

Still don't see Qatar birds leaving for home, whats the latest excuse from comical Ali?

It is sad indeed. Progress is being made. Planes are moving through the process. One is on the flightline, should deliver this month (maybe). What is worrisome is that a recent article quoted Qatar has saying they would receive 10 aircraft this year. The production list shows up to 18, including 3x A350-1000s. That is a significant difference. Let's hope we are not looking at another year like last year with regards to QR deliveries!

KarelXWB wrote:

And MSN 97 got its final registration applied

Sorry for the nitpicking but isn't the final registration applied during the painting and test registration then taped over it?

Strato2 wrote:

KarelXWB wrote:

And MSN 97 got its final registration applied

Sorry for the nitpicking but isn't the final registration applied during the painting and test registration then taped over it?

A picture is worth a thousand words...
https://twitter.com/lufthansaNews/statu ... 44/photo/1

By the way, the tv crew on the picture made a documentary of the D-AIXC delivery. will air in a few months.

F-WLXV has just completed over 12 hours of circuits at OZP and now positioned to Seville. Although likely to be related to noise measurements and associated noise footprint on take off and landing is anyone with knowledge of certification aware of any other aspects that would be covered ...autoland integrity? The three -1000 put in a solid week and I hope the inferences from Qatar she is on the heavy side are unfounded otherwise an excuse for launch customer to defer mid year!

Fuselage parts for Air China's first A350 have been spotted in XFW.


A350 part for the first Air China by Tobias Gudat, on Flickr

MSN 109 (Cathay #15/16?) has powered on, on the flightline this morning. Jumped the cue ahead of MSN 101 it seems.

MSN 109 is still unpainted AFAIK.

KarelXWB wrote:

MSN 109 is still unpainted AFAIK.

wouldn't we all love to see a picture of the flightline as to put to bed speculation as to whether or not Airbus has started powering up A350s that have yet to be painted!

hkcanadaexpat wrote:

KarelXWB wrote:

MSN 109 is still unpainted AFAIK.

wouldn't we all love to see a picture of the flightline

A330s & A350s by dn280tls, on Flickr

Next (#8) Finnair A350 OH-LWH has been flown to HEL last night as FIN8961.

ZEDZAG wrote:

Article mentions that QR is missing 7 359 frames, cause AB is late in deliveries, but facts are little different

Still, I feel things have started to move with QR.

If you look at production list, there's only one now at flightline. However, "on final" (that is either Station 20, or Paint Hangar to me), there are 6 more. Considering typically it takes 2-3 months for a frame to go from Station 20 to delivery, we might have all of them delivered in Q2.
Yes, I know this is Al. And all the 359s ready in Q2 might as well be delivered in Q4. That's the carpet Al.

Cheers, Adam

A bit of activity on the flightline:
> first engine run for MSN 103 (Ethiopian #4)
> second test flight for MSN 95 (Thai #3) [AIB02NZ]

Also, MSN 69 (Qatar #15) had planned its first engine run yesterday (Apr. 3). I don't know if it was successful.

First engine run for MSN 107 (Singapore #13/14) this morning.

Word is on the street that MSN 109 will be painted in XFW, and MSN 107 after its first flight in TLS.

CSC52R1 moving now on TLS. Is that a sign that Sichuan is closing on delivery of MSN 52, 55 and 60?

Cheers,
Adam

Whilst I understand the frames were taken up very quickly - the delay indicates how long preparations take in an airline in order to operate a new fleet type.

MSN 69 (Qatar #15) RTO this afternoon.
And an attempt at a first engine run for MSN 93 (Cathay #14)

gloom wrote:

ZEDZAG wrote:

Article mentions that QR is missing 7 359 frames, cause AB is late in deliveries, but facts are little different

Still, I feel things have started to move with QR.

If you look at production list, there's only one now at flightline. However, "on final" (that is either Station 20, or Paint Hangar to me), there are 6 more. Considering typically it takes 2-3 months for a frame to go from Station 20 to delivery, we might have all of them delivered in Q2.
Yes, I know this is Al. And all the 359s ready in Q2 might as well be delivered in Q4. That's the carpet Al.

Cheers, Adam

There is certainly more activity going on than last year. Current status on the QR A350-900s:

- MSN 63 moved from cabin fit to paint last week
- MSN 69 is on the flight line
- MSN 76 is in paint and should roll out soon
- MSN 78 is in cabin fit for quite some time now
- MSN 83 is in cabin fit for quite some time now
- MSN 90 has just moved to cabin fit

The rest in in storage or final assembly.

Strato2 wrote:

Next (#8) Finnair A350 OH-LWH has been flown to HEL last night as FIN8961.

OH-LWH has been sold to GE Capital and leased back for 12 years with options. This arrangement will have a net positive impact of 50 million Euros for Finnair's result for Q2. It's obvious that as a launch customer for the original A350 AY made a killer deal for which they are reaping the rewards now.

hkcanadaexpat wrote:

MSN 69 (Qatar #15) RTO this afternoon.

=>


AIRBUS A350-900XWB QATAR AIRWAYS F-WZGZ MSN069 (A7-ALP) A L'AEROPORT TOULOUSE-BLAGNAC LE 05 04 17 by Jérémy Le roch, on Flickr

Looks like MSN69 Qatar 17? is off for its first flight.

MSN99 (SQ #13) doing some engine run

https://www.flightradar24.com/SIA99ER2

BOAC1966 wrote:

F-WLXV has just completed over 12 hours of circuits at OZP and now positioned to Seville

Where or what is OZP?

OZP = Morón Air Base, Arahal, Seville, Spain

StTim wrote:

Looks like MSN69 Qatar 17? is off for its first flight.

That would be QR #15.

Photo of today's flight:


Qatar A350-941 msn 069 by dn280tls, on Flickr

MSN 95 is preparing for a 3rd flight today:

https://fr24.com/AIB03NZ/cfb6343

KarelXWB wrote:

StTim wrote:

Looks like MSN69 Qatar 17? is off for its first flight.

That would be QR #15.

Photo of today's flight:


Qatar A350-941 msn 069 by dn280tls, on Flickr

Hard to keep track of Qatar numbers

According to the latest firing order, United Airlines' A350 production slots have been axed/swapped:

> MSN 194: UA #1, not built
> MSN 222: UA #2, not built
> MSN 237: UA #3, Qatar Airways
> MSN 264: UA #4, Cathay Pacific
> MSN 272: UA #5, China Eastern Airlines

Deferral?

KarelXWB wrote:

> MSN 272: UA #5, China Eastern Airlines

Is MSN 272 necessarily a -1000 or can that be changed to the -900. China Eastern have no -1000 on order. Otherwise it'd be the first upgrade from an ordered -900

The firing order also shows the first allocations for JAL, BAW and AFR:

- MSN 321: Japan Airlines #1
- MSN 338: Air France #1
- MSN 342: British Airways #1

mat66 wrote:

KarelXWB wrote:

> MSN 272: UA #5, China Eastern Airlines

Is MSN 272 necessarily a -1000 or can that be changed to the -900. China Eastern have no -1000 on order. Otherwise it'd be the first upgrade from an ordered -900

At this point it says A350-1000, though that could be a typo.

When is the first DL machine LN 115 supposed to roll out?

MSN 107 (Singapore #13/14) completed its RTO this afternoon

N501DN (DAL#1) scheduled for 7/2017 delivery. N502DN (DAL#2) for 8/2017 delivery.