First look at Airbus's brand new aircraft

A long-haul Airbus A350-900 plane leaves the paintshop near the final assembly line. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

An A350 aircraft progresses throught the final assembly line at Airbus facility in Toulouse, France. Picture: Supplied Source: AFP

FRENCH aerospace giant Airbus has offered a sneak preview of its latest long-haul carrier, the A350, rolling out a first model in front of hundreds of staff at its assembly plant in south-western France.

Reporters and photographers were not invited to the event near the city of Toulouse, but still got a brief glimpse of the blue-tailed aircraft from outside the fenced-off area, as it rolled out from the paint shop.

The A350-900 model is due for its first take-off this summer, with the first deliveries to airlines scheduled at the end of 2014.

Airbus hopes the 314-seater will compete with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner by being both lighter and more fuel-efficient than previous models.

So far, Airbus - which will also make other models in the A350 series - has received orders for 616 carriers.

The company said the Trent XWB engines from Rolls Royce were assembled at the end of March and that "a series of vibration tests" have been carried out.

A long-haul Airbus A350-900 plane leaves the paintshop near the final assembly line. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

A long-haul Airbus A350-900 plane leaves the paintshop near the final assembly line. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

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