Airbus’ first-ever A380 prototype has returned to the air after a long break. Registered as F-WWOW and carrying serial number MSN001, the aircraft performed a test flight on March 25 from Toulouse to Île d’Oléron, lasting just over two hours.
This aircraft holds a special place in aviation history, as it was the same A380 that carried out the type’s maiden flight on April 27, 2005. In later years, it was used by Airbus as a flying testbed for new technologies, including Trent XWB-97 engine testing for the A350-1000 program in 2015.
After being placed into storage in 2022 and later reactivated for further testing, the aircraft has now returned to flight operations once again. Today, F-WWOW remains the last active A380 prototype and is expected to play a role in Airbus’ future technology work, including hydrogen-related research under the ZEROe program.
