Airbus has completed the paintwork on the first A350F, bringing its new-generation widebody freighter another step closer to entering flight testing.

The aircraft is now being prepared for its first flight, which Airbus is targeting for late September.

The A350F will offer a payload capacity of up to 111 tonnes and a range of around 8,700 km (4,700 nm). More than 100 firm orders have been secured for the freighter, giving Airbus an established orderbook as it takes on Boeing’s 777F in the large freighter market.

Airbus says the aircraft will feature the largest main deck cargo door in the industry, alongside its latest Cargo Loading System (CLS). The combination is designed to accommodate exceptionally large loads, including turbofan engines, without requiring multiple loading movements.

The first aircraft’s livery was selected from 4,000 design submissions, with the completed aircraft now moving on to the next stage of the programme: first flight.

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