Ex military pilots formate A350s
 

All - I know many commercial pilots are ex-military anyway, but it's not often you see a formation of five A350s executing breaks and peel offs just like a fast jet package... check out 4:30 onwards...
Watch Airbus Risk $1.5 Billion in a Wild Airplane Stunt - Reviewed.com Cameras

cameras.reviewed.com's headline is somewhat hysterical. It looked like a well-planned exercise to me.

An edited version was on a continuous video loop on the screens behind EASA's reception in Köln last week - so I guess they're happy that this was a safe exercise!

A350XWB seems to be coming along - and selling - very well indeed!

Agreed - very over the top headline.
Obviously rehearsed and executed by professionals.
Impressive to see that peel off though; a few hundred tons of airliner rolling away like a fighter...

I know, paint them red and white and no problem after 2018!

Some comments, presumably from people who 'haven't thought of it first' are disparaging. As soon as you bank a large aircraft in formation you are effectively flying blind.

A350 Choreography
 

Proud Dad here! My No1 off-spring was I/c formation choreography from the chase aircraft - he is the bearded baldie in a dark top in the briefing. I recognised his voice passing the cloud info' back as the five 350s taxied-out.


He's an ex-Jag mate and 340s with Virgin & Etihad.

Brian - that will be one or two for the family album then - I think it is a brilliant piece of flying, well planned and executed (IMHO, of course)

Please explain to us pilots that have flown large aircraft in formation.

Brilliant! Loved it. Bravo Airbus! :D:D:D

FED, apologies for encroaching on your hallowed ground, but surely the left hand seat pilot becomes instituted as the bank is rolled on and his visibility to the left is not exactly good is it?

Or I am missing something?

4.24 4.25

:D:D
Where was the low go pullup to closed fullstop?:O

What a superb piece of flying. Outstanding. I can't wait to try it in my A330 tomorrow.

PN. It is hallowed ground; so shuffle along on your knees when you enter it.

I really enjoyed that. I was at an Airbus Military sponsored reception at the British ambassador's residence in Washington last year, and they had a single A400M doing its thing on a big projector. That was impressive, but the A350 formation was even more so.

Can it be rolled like the 707? :E

What no Vixen break?

Seriously, superb video, great flying, shame about the headline and the stupid comments, but hey-ho. And a Corvette! Never realised there was at least one still working for a living.

:ok:

It's done by Airbus test pilots only. It's considered to be a high risk maneuvre with minimum crew onboard only and special briefing before. Done in special airspace. This is what it makes safe and not a stunt.

Roadster280, the normal Airbus flight envelope protection would prevent the A350XWB from being rolled.

The bank angle restrictions of the A400M flight envelope allow a higher bank angle than is permitted for the A350XWB - hence the agile display flying!

5 x Airbus 350.
 

Formidable !

Magnifique, ça !

:ok:

D.

Thanks for the link

Parfaitement! :ok:

Having been in a small way part of the design team makes me proud to have been associated with this magnificent aircraft.