Airbus prepares ex-Malaysia A380 as new flying testbed after repainting flight to Ireland
Airbus is preparing to welcome a new ex-Malaysia A380 into service as a testbed aircraft. This aircraft has spent almost half of its existence stored after being retired early during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Airbus A380 testbed flies to Ireland for repainting
The aviation account, Aviation Toulouse, posted: “2-JAYN (formerly 9M-MNF) has arrived in Shannon to be repainted in #Airbus colors… The aircraft will serve as a flying test bed for Airbus, replacing F-WWOW, which will be withdrawn from service.”
2-JAYN (formerly 9M-MNF) has arrived in Shannon to be repainted in #Airbus colors.
— Aviation Toulouse (@Frenchpainter) July 16, 2026
The #A380 MSN 114 flew for Malaysia Airlines before being placed in storage in 2020.
The aircraft will serve as a flying test bed for Airbus, replacing F-WWOW, which will be withdrawn from service. pic.twitter.com/a7BTMY3v1N
AGN is unable to confirm the pending retirement of F-WWOW, although it can be noted that the aircraft is now 21 years old and has conducted extensive heavy test flying.
Additionally, it is unclear if Airbus would need to have the F-WWOW aircraft operating as a testbed after the 2-JAYN becomes available, given that the world’s remaining A380 fleet is likely to disappear from the skies in the next ten years.
In regular commercial service, the A380 is designed for around 25 years of operations, although that is not a hard date with maintaince, usage intensity, and more heavily influencing its practical lifespan.
According to Planespotters.net, Airbus has a total of 17, mostly testbed, aircraft in its inventory. These include three A220s, one A319, one A320, six A321neos, three A350s, one A380, and one CASA C-295. The A220s and A350s include both variants for those aircraft types.
The relatively high number of A321neos partially reflects the fact that the aircraft has two engine options (LEAP-1A and PW1100G), the development of new models (e.g., A321XLR), and that the aircraft participates in developing new technologies (e.g., 100% SAF testing, new systems, cabin innovations, efficiency upgrades, etc.).
Airbus’ original F-WWOW A380 testbed
The testbed Airbus A380 registered F-WWOW was the first Airbus A380 ever built and bears the MSN 001. It is an A380-841 prototype that has served as the lead development and test aircraft for the A380 programme.
A380 F-WWOW on flight test this morning at Toulouse #A380 #FWWOW #trent97 pic.twitter.com/P10IZbQHO0
— FRANCHI théo (@THOFBOSS) September 19, 2016
It rolled out in January 2025, making its maiden flight in April 2005, marking the first flight of the Superjumbo. The aircraft was never delivered to any airline, but was instead retained by Airbus as the company’s primary A380 prototype.
Besides the A380 programme, it has served as a testbed for other programmes, including testing the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine for the A350 in the 2010s, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) trials in 2022, and other missions.
The aircraft spent a prolonged period of time stored between 2022 and March 2025, when it returned to the skies, taking part in efforts to keep the world’s A380-in-service fleet flying. Around 189 of the original 251 delivered aircraft remain active.
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Airbus’ new ex-Malaysian Airlines 2-JAYN A380 testbed
Airbus’ new testbed A380 is an ex-Malaysia Airlines 9M-MNF delivered in March 2013, which formerly bore the “100th A380” sticker.
It only flew with Malaysia Airlines for seven years before being withdrawn from use and stored in April 2020 (COVID-19) and then delivered to Airbus Financial Services in March 2023. Malaysia Airlines divested its full fleet of six A380s.
The Airbus A380's 100th production aircraft (MSN 114) has returned to service after nearly three years in storage at Tarbes-Lourdes Airport. Formerly with Malaysia Airlines (9M-MNF), it was acquired by Airbus in 2022. Boasting low usage (<24,000 hours, <2,300 cycles), it's now… pic.twitter.com/2uDjOGz72e
— Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) October 3, 2025
Recently, the aircraft has been based at Tarbes Lourdes in France, where Tarmac Aerosave, a prominent aerospace company jointly owned by Airbus and other partners, is located. Tarmac Aerosave uses the site to store, maintain, and dismantle retired commercial aircraft.
Yesterday, the aircraft, now registered 2-JAYN, flew into Shannon Airport in Ireland, where it is expected to receive its new coat of paint ahead of Airbus testbed service.
Featured Image: Airbus
