I’ve written before about the embarrassing mechanical problems Germany has had with its government jets. In an attempt to remedy the problem once and for all, the first of three new Airbus A350-900s will soon be delivered.
First Airbus A350 Will Soon Be Delivered To German Government
Yesterday, an A350-941ACJ took its fourth flight, a duration of about 90 minutes from Toulouse to Toulouse, the primary assembly plant for Airbus. The aircraft, known as a Regierungsflieger or government aviator, will transport the Chancellor and other top German government officials around the world. It will have the capacity to travel 22 hours without refueling, making any destination around the world reachable without a fuel stop.
After problematic A310s and A340s, the new A350 should provide a stable mode of transport in an increasingly complicated world.
> Read More: Lufthansa Investigates Near-Crash Of Presidential Jet
The popular German YouTube channel Videospotter.de brings us video from the maiden voyage of the jet from Toulouse on February 21st:
The paint job is sleek, bearing the a cheatline with the colors of the German flag and the words Bundesrepublik Deutschland or Federal Republic fo Germany.
It’s not clear what Germany chose for the interior of the aircraft, but Airbus advertises a so-called “Easyfit” configuration that looks quite swanky.
CONCLUSION
The new A350 was not a luxury, but a necessity for Germany. Hopefully Chancellor Angela Merkel won’t experience any further mechanical delays to G20 meetings and be forced to take Iberia to get there late…
German economy is so small compared to the US. And Russian economy is even smaller than german economy.
It’s hard to think that these countries fight as equals 100 years ago.
Less debt, better health care, better social security… And there are a lot more country’s that can claim that. Size of economy isn’t all that relevant sometimes 🙂
Yes. True. Americans exist to serve the country and the rich class than the other way.
America is a communist country in that respect.
And a socialist too considering the dole handed out by the government. I really really wish the government did not hand out checks. Would be interesting to see what choices people living pay check to pay check would make.
I saw yesterday a new AirbusA350 from the German government parked at LAX on the El Segundo site right by the tunnel.It was white and it had Bundesrepublik Deutschland written on it.Was a cabinet-member of Angela Merkel visiting Los Angeles?I have no idea.I cannot imagine that the plane came empty because the operating costs are high.Did they let Elon Musk use one of their planes?Who please has an answer for me?
I’ve looked and cannot find an answer.
Wtf does “The paint job is sleep” mean?
K is so close to P on the keyboard, k?
@matthew
This is likely how the interior of the A350 will look like. It falls in the category of understated luxury, much like Schloss Bellevue – the government isn’t big on bling. Representative yes, but not obnoxious.
https://www.rheinische-anzeigenblaetter.de/sonderthemen/ortstermin/in-der-kanzlermaschine-umgebaute-airbusse-sind-fliegende-domizile-unserer-regierung-28098758
Oh and they can be configured as flying intensive care stations too.
The first A350 will have, according to Spiegel, only standard economy (read premium economy) and bussiness class seats (the LH version) so that it can be delieverd much sooner.
See also this video of the A321 now in service:
Thanks for sharing. Excellent videos What a beautiful airplane. The wing on the A350 is so elegant. Nice to see Germany with such a stunning plane. Germany is one of the most important economies in the world and this plane represent that.
Are you sure the video is taken in Toulouse? I suggest the footage is from Hamburg-Finkenwerder.