Gallery: Airbus A330-800 completes first flight

Airbus A330-800 MSN 1888 during its maiden flight, which started from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport Nov. 6. The aircraft flew over southwestern France.

The A330-800 takes off.

The first A330-800 takes off from Toulouse.

As the A330-800 was on its test flight, TAP Air Portugal's first A330-900 awaits delivery. TAP is the world first airline to operate an A330neo. Second delivery is scheduled to Brazil's Azul.

On site in Toulouse. On the opposite of the Airbus delivery center there were three additional A330neos waiting for completion. One A330neo is for Air Mauritius and one is for Iceland-based WOW Air, as well TAP Air Portugal.

The A330-800 returns from its test flight, making a low pass over the runway.

After 4 hrs. and 4 min., the A330-800 touches down at Blagnac airport.

The A330-800 on the way to its parking position.

The test-flight Crew leaves the aircraft.The crew in the cockpit comprised: Experimental Test Pilots Malcolm RIDLEY and François BARRE and Test-Flight Engineer Ludovic GIRARD. Meanwhile, monitoring the aircraft systems and performance in real-time at the flight-test-engineer’s (FTE) station were Catherine SCHNEIDER and Jose CORUGEDO BERMEJO.

Members of the Airbus management, lead by Airbus Commercial Aircraft president Guillaume Faury, on stage for the welcome of the test-flight crew.

A delegation from Kuwait Airways inspected the first A330-800. Kuwait has ordered eight A330-800s.

One of the Airbus transporters, “Beluga,“ takes off from Toulouse above the A330neo.
An Airbus A330-800 test aircraft completed its maiden flight Nov. 6, 2018, from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport over southwestern France, which lasted 4 hrs. and 4 min. The aircraft, MSN 1888, is an A330neo powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.
ATW correspondent Kurt Hofmann was at the event.