Airbus Conducts Test Flight for its First Plane Made in the U.S

European aircraft maker Airbus says the inaugural test flight of its first airplane made in the United States was a success.

The A321 passenger jet took off Monday from the company’s new plant in Mobile, Alabama.

The three-hour flight over the Gulf of Mexico was to include a series of maneuvers and tests of all the airplane’s operating systems. The company later tweeted that the flight was successful.

The aircraft will be delivered to purchaser JetBlue in a few weeks after final preparations.

Airbus began constructing the $600 million plant in 2013 after selecting Alabama as the location. State and local governments provided more than $158 million in incentives for the factory, which will employ about 1,000 people.

The plant will produce A319 and A320 aircraft aside from the A321.

Governor Robert Bentley on Monday issued a statement regarding the first successful test flight of Airbus A321. The aircraft is produced in Mobile and is flying for the first time before final delivery to JetBlue.

“It is a major milestone in the history of aviation manufacturing in Alabama to see the first Airbus aircraft produced in Mobile to schedule its first test flight,” Governor Bentley said. “This test flight is standard procedure before delivering an aircraft to a customer. Aerospace and aviation industries are extremely important to Alabama, and it is exciting to know soon JetBlue will receive its first A321 proudly Made In Alabama.”

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