European airplane manufacturer Airbus' newest aircraft, the A350, successfully took off on its first test flight on June 14 from France’s southwestern city of Toulouse. With a total investment of $15 billion, the launch of the new aircraft was seen as a major effort by Airbus to challenge its US rival Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner in the long-distance market. China also participated in about 5 percent of the design and manufacturing of the aircraft's body.
European airplane manufacturer Airbus' newest aircraft, the A350, successfully took off on its first test flight on June 14 from France’s southwestern city of Toulouse. With a total investment of $15 billion, the launch of the new aircraft was seen as a major effort by Airbus to challenge its US rival Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner in the long-distance market. China also participated in about 5 percent of the design and manufacturing of the aircraft's body.