Airbus has completed a ground vibration test (GVT) campaign on the first A350F test aircraft at its Toulouse final assembly line. Conducted over three days in June, the tests are a critical prerequisite for the freighter's first flight, as they validate the aircraft's dynamic behavior and aeroelastic models. The GVT involved attaching electrodynamic shakers at various points, including wingtips, the rear fuselage cone, and engines, while control surfaces were driven in sinusoidal sweeps. Hundreds of accelerometers recorded structural responses, and Airbus combined flight test instrumentation with autonomous sensors to speed up data collection without compromising accuracy. The primary goal was to verify that the real aircraft's natural frequencies and vibration modes match numerical predictions—a core aspect of aeroelasticity, which studies the interaction between aerodynamic forces, inertia, and structural flexibility. This validation is essential to prevent flutter, a dangerous phenomenon where structural oscillations can self-amplify and potentially destroy the airframe. Nicolas Lastere, an Airbus loads and aeroelasticity specialist, emphasized that this step is key for the first flight and the initial validation of the aeroelastic model, which is indispensable for opening the flight envelope. The results showed "good correlation" with theoretical predictions, and teams are now refining the models. The GVT is just the foundation; the A350F will later undergo in-flight flutter tests during its flight test campaign. These tests will progressively expand the flight envelope to certified dive speeds and Mach numbers (VD/MD). Fabien Ayme, an Airbus aeroelastic test expert, noted that accelerations were monitored in real time, with data processed after each sequence to adjust the test matrix if needed. This step-by-step approach is standard in certification but especially important for the A350F, which, despite being derived from the A350-1000, features a unique architecture with a reinforced floor, a large main-deck cargo door, and cargo handling systems. The A350F is designed to carry up to 111 tonnes of payload over 4,700 nautical miles (about 8,700 km). Airbus highlights its large main-deck cargo door, lightweight composite materials, and up to 40% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to older-generation freighters. The schedule has slipped slightly: Airbus now targets a first flight before the end of 2026, with certification and first delivery "ideally" before the end of 2027.