空客A350-1000ULR超远程客机成功完成了一次创纪录的不间断跨洲飞行。[2]这架飞机从墨尔本飞往法国图卢兹，飞行时间为24小时24分钟，覆盖23,075公里的距离。[2]这次试飞吸引了超过365万人通过FlightRadar24实时追踪，成为该平台历史上第二高追踪量的航班。[2]
该飞机由澳洲航空公司订购，共12架，[1][2]用于执行名为Project Sunrise的项目。[1]这一项目旨在开通从悉尼出发至纽约或伦敦的不间断商业航班。[1]根据测试结果，悉尼至伦敦的预计飞行时间为19小时25分钟至21小时，伦敦至悉尼方向为18至20小时。[2]机长Xavier Pepin介绍了航班中的人员安排：采用四小时轮班制，每两小时轮换飞行员。[2]澳洲航空计划于2027年开始提供这一商业航线的售票运营。[1]首架飞机预计于2026年6月2日首飞。[2]
这次飞行有望打破现有的世界纪录。[2]目前的纪录由2005年波音777保持，当时从香港飞往伦敦用时22小时42分钟，飞行距离为21,601.7公里。[2]
Airbus's ultra-long-range A350-1000ULR aircraft has successfully completed an extraordinary nonstop flight between Australia and France, marking a major milestone for ultra-long-haul aviation.[2] The aircraft flew for 24 hours and 24 minutes, covering a distance of 23,075 kilometers from Melbourne to Toulouse.[2] This achievement exceeded the previous world record set in 2005 by a Boeing 777, which completed a flight from Hong Kong to London in 22 hours and 42 minutes over a distance of 21,601.7 kilometers.[2]
The test flight was conducted as part of Qantas's Project Sunrise initiative, designed to develop ultra-long-range commercial operations.[1] The airliner was developed specifically to support Qantas's planned nonstop commercial routes between Sydney and either New York or London.[1] The airline has ordered 12 A350-1000ULR aircraft and plans to commence commercial ticket sales for these routes in 2027.[1] The aircraft is scheduled to enter service in June 2026.[2]
The successful test flight captured unprecedented public attention, with more than 3.65 million people tracking the aircraft on FlightRadar24, making it the second-most tracked flight in the platform's history.[2] During the flight, the crew employed a four-hour rotation system with pilots alternating every two hours to manage fatigue across the extended duration.[2] Once operational, the Sydney-to-London route is projected to take between 18 to 21 hours of flight time, depending on direction and conditions.[2]