On June 2, the mighty Airbus A350-1000ULR roared into the sky for its very first flight — and aviation fans, this is HUGE! It took Australia's Qantas to push the boundaries of air travel,. This game-changing test flight is a massive leap forward for Qantas’ legendary Project Sunrise, bringing us closer than ever to those mind-blowing direct routes from Australia’s east coast all the way to London Heathrow and New York JFK — nearly 10,000 nautical miles nonstop each way Fitted with an extra rear fuel tank for epic range, the prototype climbed above 41,000 feet during its thrilling three-hour-plus maiden flight, putting it through its paces under the expert eyes of Airbus test pilots and engineers. Qantas has ordered 12 of these beasts, with the first delivery now targeted for April 2027. More exciting tests are coming soon to get it fully certified, unlocking up to 22-hour ultra-long-haul journeys that will slash hours off travel time compared to connections.Taking to the skies for the very first time 😍 A huge milestone for Project Sunrise as our A350-1000ULR completed its maiden test flight at the Airbus facility in Toulouse. The flight focused on testing key systems, including the aircraft’s specialised fuel system, with an additional 20,000L tank designed to enable the ultra-long haul journeys of up to 22 hours non-stop. This successful first flight marks the start of a two-month testing program, including around 80 hours of flight testing and extensive ground checks to certify the aircraft for the world’s longest routes.A major milestone for Project Sunrise👏 Our Airbus A350-1000ULR has completed its maiden test flight, marking a significant step toward non-stop services between Australia’s east coast and London and New York. The specially designed aircraft departed Toulouse for a three hour and 43 minute journey over France and the French Atlantic Coast, operated by two Airbus flight test pilots, three flight test engineers, and one ground test engineer. This marks the start of a two-month testing campaign for the aircraft, which has been custom-configured for Qantas’ ultra-long-range operations. A second Project Sunrise aircraft is currently being painted in Qantas livery with its science-backed cabin interiors fitted. More to come on that soon… 👀 - @cvprjaz_