The first Airbus A319neo flew for the first time, on Friday, the company has announced. The airplane took off from Hamburg, Germany, and landed in Toulouse, France, five hours later. The crew used that flight time to assess the general handling of the aircraft and check the main systems, the company said. The airplane now will be based in Toulouse to complete its flight-test program. The A320neo family of jets is the top seller in its niche, according to Airbus, with more than 5,000 orders in hand from 90+ customers. New-generation engines from Pratt & Whitney and CFM, plus large Sharklet wingtip devices, produce fuel savings of 15 to 20 percent, according to Airbus.
The A319neo is the smallest member of the A320neo family; it offers superior short-field performance in hot and high conditions, Airbus says. It can accommodate up to 160 passengers. It has a range of 3,750 NM and a top cruising speed of Mach 0.82.
