ATK have announced the award of a contract from Rolls-Royce plc, United Kingdom, to produce aft fan composite cases for the new Trent XWB-97 engine.
Composites on the A350 XWB
In the build up to the first ever flight of the new Airbus A350 XWB, the company have released a new video giving a sneak peek into some of the composite design, testing and development process for the A350 XWB that makes up more than 50% of the aircraft.
Airbus Confirms Date for First A350 XWB Flight
Airbus have confirmed that the A350 XWB first flight is planned for this Friday, 14th June, based on current visibility of the programme and the flight test status.
Airbus fires up the Engines on the A350 XWB
Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines have run for the first time on the A350 XWB following the start-up of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), as part of the preparations for the aircraft’s maiden flight. Combined with the A350 XWB’s lightweight composite structure and advanced aerodynamics, these latest generation engines with their exceptionally low fuel consumption help [...]
Singapore Airlines to Order up to 50 More A350 XWBs
Singapore Airlines has announced that it will purchase up to 50 more A350 XWB aircraft. The agreement covers a firm order for 30 more A350-900s plus options for a further 20 aircraft. The deal allows for the airline to select either the baseline A350-900 or the larger A350-1000 when exercising the options. The latest agreement [...]
First Airbus A350 XWB Gets New Paint Job
Painting of the first A350 XWB has been completed as it emerged in its Airbus livery out from the paintshop in Toulouse.
A350 Goes Through Lightning Strike Evaluations
Lightning strike testing have been performed for the A350 XWB, completing a required step in preparations for this next-generation Airbus jetliner’s maiden flight.
Airbus Installes Engines on A350 XWB
Airbus have installed the two flight-ready Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and the new auxiliary power units from Honeywell to its first flight test A350 XWB
Third Airbus A350 XWB Takes Shape
Build-up of the third A350 XWB is now underway at Airbus’ Toulouse, France, final assembly line as preparations continue for the composite jetliner’s upcoming flight and certification campaign. Designated MSN3, this aircraft will be deployed for a variety of A350 XWB testing – including performance at high and medium altitudes, in cold weather and hot [...]
Composite Wing Sharklets Make Service Debut
The handover of initial Sharklet-equipped A320 to AirAsia has begun, the low-cost carrier has ordered the most A320 jetliners of any airline operator. Built using lightweight composite materials, the 2.4-metre-tall Sharklets are manufactured by the Korean Air Group’s Korean Air Aerospace Division. The Sharklets help reduce the spiral-shaped vortices formed at the aircrafts wingtips during [...]
Airbus Donates Equipment to National Institute for Aviation Research
Airbus have donated aircraft structural parts and kits worth more than $800,000 to Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research for use in its research laboratories and training classes. Airbus is donating an elevator for a horizontal tail and two APU change kits. NIAR researchers will use the new kit for composite-metal hybrid structural [...]