Airbus A350

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Airbus Model: A350 Nickname: None that I know of.
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Large Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine Land
> Engine Description: Twin jet

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 10
> Number of Times Flown: 3
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: none

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 172
> Date First Flown: 9/16/2015
> Location First Flown: Toulouse, France
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Airbus Flight Test

Recollections: The A350 is Airbus’s newest and most advanced aircraft.  Designed to compete with Boeing’s 777, I was involved in what is called a “validation” of the A350 for use by American operators.  As a result, my involvement in testing consisted of few flights than in a domestic “Certification” program.  However, I did travel to Toulouse many times to learn more about the airplane and evaluate its handling qualities, performance, systems and human factors.

I am often asked “which do you prefer….Boeing or Airbus?” and I always give the same (hopefully non-offending) answer: “My perfect airplane would be a blend of the two…I really like the avionics system and Human Factors of the Airbus and like the way the Boeing flies and handles.”  I often add that I’ve never gotten used to a few aspects of the Airbus design (like the throttles, which do not move when autothrottles are engaged) and that both Boeing and Airbus make airplanes whose performance are simply incredible.

Just like my A330 experience, all my A350 flying was done with Airbus Test Pilot Thierry Bourges.  I also had the pleasure of flying often with Stefan Vaux (Flight Test Engineer…or maybe it was Test Flight Engineer–that story I will save for my A380 entry).  I also had the unique opportunity to fly with two Airbus experts who are literally world-famous for their knowledge of specific engineering disciplines: Laurent Capra (an expert in Handling Qualities, Stability and Control) and Robert Lignee (an expert in Performance).