Airbus puts an A321XLR on a 13-hour test flight touring Europe

An Airbus A321XLR is currently on a 13-hour test flight touring Europe from the skies.

On December 13th, Airbus’ Toulouse facility workers waved goodbye to an Airbus A321XLR as it took to the skies for a 13-hour flight. The test flight marks a significant milestone for the aircraft as it proves its design for long-haul flying. This flight will demonstrate its capabilities and solidify its position as the next-generation fuel-efficient narrowbody long-haul airliner.

Lengthy test flight
The long test flight conducted by Airbus started at approximately 07:00 UTC when the airplane left France’s Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS). The prototype Airbus A321XLR registered F-WXLR proceeded northwest over France until turning out over the ocean near the city of Nantes. Over the Atlantic Ocean, the pilots flew a pattern that spells out XLR on the flight tracker. After leaving their mark in the sky, the pilots returned to France and proceeded to the northwest.

The flight departed France and crossed the English Channel. From there, it hopped over into Irish airspace and exited to the northeast. The flight is currently nearing Norway. The airplane is traveling at flight level 390 and tracking 450 knots over the ground. The aircraft is on a round-trip flight plan and plans to return to TLS this evening at roughly 19:55 UTC.

Airbus is using this flight as a test flight to prove that the new aircraft is everything it says it is. The manufacturer is hoping to show the world the impressive capabilities of this aircraft and is thoroughly monitoring the airplane, checking for any flaws that might manifest on such a long flight. A representative for Airbus has told Simple Flying the following, “The flight is part of the usual testing campaign and has genuine technical objectives for the fuel systems testing and maturity.”

An impressive airplane
The Airbus A321XLR is widely considered to be a plane of the future. Since it was announced in 2019, Airbus has continually worked to improve its product. At its core, the XLR is an Airbus A321neo designed to fly to further destinations. The manufacturer has already produced the A321LR, which stands for long-range and is also intended to fly to further destinations. However, the XLR, which stands for extra long range, can fly even further distances.

The XLR has a max range of 4,700 nautical miles. Depending on the cabin layout, it can also carry between 180 and 200 passengers. This range is far greater than that of most narrowbody aircraft. Aircraft in the same class, such as the Boeing 737 MAX 8, has a max range of 3,548 nautical miles. The Airbus A321neo has a max range of 3,240 nautical miles. This high-capacity, long-range aircraft has exited the class of the more common narrowbody aircraft, such as the 737 and A320, and has entered the previously uncontested domain of the Boeing 757.

The 757 is a narrowbody airliner with around 200 seats, depending on the model and cabin layout. The aircraft is known for providing access to distant destinations that bring small amounts of demand. Boeing stopped producing the long-haul jet over a decade ago. Since then, many airlines have requested a replacement for the aging 757 as it is less cost-effective than newer jets but still plays an essential role in their operations. The XLR is arguably the first viable replacement to the 757, although many argue it does not have adequate capacity to truly replace the 757. Another potential replacement is the Boeing 737 MAX 10, although this aircraft’s future remains uncertain. Airbus & simpleflying.com