European airplane manufacturer Airbus is set to test its new mid-size, long-range A350 jet at the French home of Airbus in Toulouse on Friday. The A350 is designed as a competitor to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. It is scheduled to take to the skies for its maiden flight at 0800GMT. The test comes three days before the start of the biennial ParisAir Show, where Airbus and Boeing traditionally do battle for aircraft orders. The A350 uses light carbon-composite materials instead of aluminium, allowing airlines to make savings on fuel. It will have a capacity of between 270 and 350 passengers and is scheduled to enter service in late 2014.
