Airbus A350F freighter with Broughton-built wings makes first flight

Airbus says its new A350F freighter—built with wings assembled at Broughton—made its first flight on Tuesday, 29 September, departing from Toulouse. The test aircraft flew for 4 hours and 10 minutes, reaching 25,000 feet and a speed of 340 knots. Airbus noted that Broughton-built wings move to Toulouse for final assembly, while other UK sites contributed: Filton adapted the landing gear for cargo operations and Prestwick assembled the fixed leading edge. Belfast engineering led the design of the central fuselage and cargo floor. The aircraft begins 400 hours of flight testing toward certification and first deliveries in the second half of 2027.