This week, Virgin Atlantic launched its brand new A350 to New York. The sleek-looking aircraft lifted effortlessly into the sky just before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The 3,500-mile journey took just more than seven hours, delivering the passengers and crew safely to JFK — albeit a few minutes late.
The flight was an important moment in aircraft development, continuing the shift from fuel-thirsty four-engine aircraft towards much more efficient two-engine aircraft. When the effects of the aviation industry on the environment are very much at the forefront of peoples’ minds, the change to aircraft like the A350 is essential to doing what airlines can to reduce their carbon footprint.
