en.Wedoany.com Reported - Airbus has completed the "hot fuel" test of the first A350-1000ULR (registration number F-WULR) in Cardiff, conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, aimed at verifying the reliability of the fuel system under high-temperature conditions during extreme-range flights.

During the test, the team refueled the aircraft with kerosene artificially heated to a maximum of 50 degrees Celsius. The inspection covered tank sealing, the ability of overflow devices to collect expanded kerosene, and the accurate measurement and display of actual fuel quantity. According to airworthiness regulation CFR 25.961, the engine must be able to withstand kerosene at 43.4 degrees Celsius during startup. The test focused on verifying the startup capability of the engine and auxiliary power unit (APU) under high-temperature fuel conditions, ensuring no bubble formation in the pipeline system and safe fuel supply.

To meet the demands of extreme long-haul routes, the A350-1000ULR is equipped with an additional auxiliary fuel tank with a capacity of 20,000 liters installed behind the center wing box, bringing its total fuel capacity to 185,076 liters, compared to 168,300 liters for the standard A350-1000.

With these improvements, the A350-1000ULR achieves a range of up to 18,500 kilometers, or 22 hours of continuous flight. The aircraft features a four-class cabin layout with 238 seats and is equipped with an upgraded cooling system to ensure onboard food supply. Qantas has ordered 12 of these aircraft, scheduled for delivery in spring 2027, and will deploy them for its "Project Sunrise" operations starting in October 2027. Turkish Airlines is also considered a potential customer for this model.

Before returning to Toulouse, the A350-1000ULR flew over Airbus's facility in Filton, UK, on Wednesday afternoon, concluding the test.