Airbus Flight Record: 16 Hours on a Narrow-body Plane
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Quick! Think of the longest flight you’ve ever taken on one of Airbus’ A320 family of narrow-body jets.
Five hours? Maybe six?
For one set of Airbus test pilots the answer is 16 hours, 10 minutes.
Airbus’ new ACJ319neo corporate jet clocked that jaw-dropping flight time on a Friday test flight that took the aircraft from Toulouse in southern France to northern Greenland and back.
Airbus says the flight was the longest ever operated by one of its crews on the A320 family of jets. Airbus’ previous record for the A320 family was a 15-hour, 15-minute ACJ319 flight from Santiago, Chile, to Paris flown in 1999.
The European jetmaker described Friday’s recording-breaking trip with as “an endurance flight that included a simulated diversion.”
The flight of the new ACJ319neo variant came just two days after the aircraft took off on its maiden flight on Wednesday. That flight – much shorter at one hour, 55 minutes – began “a short flight-test program to verify its corporate jet features,” according to a statement from Airbus.
The first ACJ319neo is destined for K5 Aviation of Germany, which offers “individually tailored management and commercial charter services for long-range aircraft,” according to the company’s website.
K5 intends to install a “VVIP” (very VIP) cabin interior on the jet.
“We want to fly customers to their destination using the quickest routes, as well as delivering unsurpassed comfort and service, and it’s impressive to see such long-range capability at first hand,” Erik Scheidt, K5 Aviation CEO and chief pilot, said in a statement via Airbus. Scheidt participated in Friday’s flight.
The ACJ319neo is equipped with five extra fuel tanks in its cargo hold to help extend its range, which stands at about 6,750 nautical miles (12,500 nautical kilometers) with eight passengers on board. Its nonstop city-pair routings include options like Los Angeles-Tokyo, Hong Kong-London and Dubai-Sydney, according to Airbus.
Featured image courtesy of Airbus.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.