The new Airbus A350F completed its maiden flight on 29 September 2026, beginning the certification campaign for the new freighter. MSN700 remained airborne for 4 hours and 10 minutes and reached an altitude of 25,000 feet.
Among its most significant composite structures is the Main Deck Cargo Door, the largest of its kind in commercial aviation. The component provides a 4.3-metre clear opening and is manufactured using advanced carbon fibre composites.
Produced at Airbus’ Illescas facility in Spain, a centre of expertise for large composite surfaces, the door is a complex structural element of the rear fuselage. It must withstand flight torsional loads and temperatures ranging from approximately -45°C to +55°C, while maintaining dimensional accuracy and minimising weight.
Its size enables the loading of large cargo, including aircraft engines, while opening and closing are managed by a fully electric actuation system. The structure spans seven fuselage frame bays and represents one of the major engineering changes introduced for the freighter variant.
More broadly, the A350F is manufactured from more than 70% advanced materials, and Airbus describes it as the only new-generation freighter with a predominantly carbon fibre airframe. It can carry up to 111 tonnes over a range of approximately 8,700 kilometres.
The maiden flight now opens the certification test campaign, during which the programme will also validate one of the largest moving composite structures ever integrated into a commercial aircraft.
-
-
08 October 2026
