Delta’s first Airbus A350 took to the sky for the first time since it was painted from a sunny Toulouse Airport where the state-of-the-art jet was assembled. The flight was part of a series of pre-delivery test flights Airbus conducts to check critical flight controls and systems. Delta will be the first North American carrier to accept the new Airbus widebody aircraft and will begin scheduled service on Oct. 30 when it departs from Detroit to Tokyo-Narita International Airport.

The Delta A350 first took off, unpainted, in May for its first test flight. It began taking shape back in January as it entered Airbus’ final assembly facility.

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