Qantas Project Sunrise goes ahead, 12 new A350-1000s ordered

[aaa99]

Just spotted on FlightRadar24

 

[Saab34]

Well at least everyone will get plenty of notice for its arrival time!

 

[elanshin]

Third airframe spotted now in Toulouse. MSN846|

Looks mostly assembled minus the engines. No paint job besides the tail.

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[SYD]

Did Airbus ever confirm what the “supply chain” issues were that delayed the delivery? Much speculation around seat certification but I don’t recall anything definitive?

 

[elanshin]

Did Airbus ever confirm what the “supply chain” issues were that delayed the delivery? Much speculation around seat certification but I don’t recall anything definitive?

I dont think anyone has confirmed anything regarding PS. It was all speculation - that being said given where we are today and what they're testing and certification phase, their initial timeline might have been highly optimistic to begin with as well (like if everything went perfectly type of timeline).

 

[SYD]

I dont think anyone has confirmed anything regarding PS. It was all speculation - that being said given where we are today and what they're testing and certification phase, their initial timeline might have been highly optimistic to begin with as well (like if everything went perfectly type of timeline).

Quite likely. Something was/is on the “critical path” but they seemed confident that three aircraft will turn up in rapid succession next year.

So that could be a “certification” tick in the box rather than waiting for physical stuff turning up and being installed?

Obviously in addition to all the certification testing happening now.

 

[RB001]

And they're now under way.

AIB35LR from Toulouse to Melbourne https://fr24.com/AIB35LR/40ce0e1e

 

[gwilli1]

Landing to be streamed LIVE from MEL on Youtube

 

[Melburnian1]

IIRC, PS is to cover 17016 kilometres from SYD to LHR.

According to FR24, today's test flight covers about 16942km. Not a huge difference, but it's in the generally 'favourable' direction for wind conditions.

Unless there's a major hiccup such as severe fog in Melbourne at 0900 tomorrow morning (which the BOM is not suggesting), the aircraft is highly likely to receive a clear run from air traffic controllers. When it's a regular operation into LHR or SYD, this may not always occur.

What average weight per passenger has the test plane assumed and hence taken on board in weights? 70Kg?

Are the total weights used also taking account of how much more the galleys - food, beverages and carts, cutlery, crockery, glassware - would weigh on a passenger carrying flight that needs to cater for three meals plus snacks and drinks?

 

[Warragul]

According to this it varies between jurisdictions, with casa recommending different weight assumptions for various seating capacities.

For 150-299 seats, they suggest 81.8kg for males and 66.7 for females.

How do airlines calculate passengers' weight? Tui airline's mistake puts spotlight on weighty issue

 

[Rabs97]

IIRC, PS is to cover 17016 kilometres from SYD to LHR.

According to FR24, today's test flight covers about 16942km. Not a huge difference, but it's in the generally 'favourable' direction for wind conditions.

That’s the great circle distance, which would entail flying directly over Iran. So the actual route would have to be longer.

Unless there's a major hiccup such as severe fog in Melbourne at 0900 tomorrow morning (which the BOM is not suggesting), the aircraft is highly likely to receive a clear run from air traffic controllers. When it's a regular operation into LHR or SYD, this may not always occur.

They have CAT IIIb approach capability, only 75m RVR required. That’s the same length as the aeroplane itself. They can sometimes get that low in Europe but I’ve never seen any really low RVRs in Australia

What average weight per passenger has the test plane assumed and hence taken on board in weights? 70Kg?

Are the total weights used also taking account of how much more the galleys - food, beverages and carts, cutlery, crockery, glassware - would weigh on a passenger carrying flight that needs to cater for three meals plus snacks and drinks?

One would assume for the test to be as realistic as possible the simulated ballast weight would closely match the intended weights of the operation. Otherwise the test would be useless

 

[dajop]

That’s the great circle distance, which would entail flying directly over Iran. So the actual route would have to be longer.

Russia is the problem with the great circle route. Neither MEL or SYD to LHR great circle goes over Iran. MEL-LHR GC is closer to the "open" route then SYD-LHR. Threading the needle over the Stans, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Black Sea seems to add about 200-300 mi (300-500km) to the overall distance (unless doing the Alaska route when traveling to LHR, but that would be driven by time rather than distance when conditions are favourable, so moot).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

FlightRadar24 claiming it as a first non stop flight TLS-MEL but it has been done before, several times! VH-EBB being the first

 

[Captain Halliday]

Are the total weights used also taking account of how much more the galleys - food, beverages and carts, cutlery, crockery, glassware - would weigh on a passenger carrying flight that needs to cater for three meals plus snacks and drinks?

I don’t know the exact numbers but weight is added to simulate the galley.

Fun fact: Not only are they simulating the weight of the passengers, they’re also simulating the body heat that pax generate.

Here’s an image from Airbus which shows the “simulated passengers”.

My understanding is that the tubes are heated to the same temp as the human body which tests things like air conditioning.


Photo credit: Airbus.