Originally Posted by darthlemsip

Test ones are usually overweight, so usually they're either:

• Kept by the manufacturer for testing new technologies (as mentioned above, the test A350-900's are testing the new winglet)
• Sold to a customer who can use them on their routes
• Put on display (Like the 787-8's)
• Scrapped

However, that's more common with first generation models - with second gen/stretches, a lot of the issues are worked out already and they're manufactured well enough that once they complete the test program, those planes can go to customers

Excellent report btw, quite jealous