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Airbus A350 XWB Development

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* Carbon-fibre jet to compete with Boeing 787, 777

* Airbus to build 10 A350s a month by late 2018

* Market worth hundreds of billions of dollars

By Tim Hepher and Jean Décotte

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 23 (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus inaugurated a factory for its A350 jetliner on Tuesday, sparking a new phase in the race for fuel efficiency and profits with U.S. rival Boeing.

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault fought through fog and an air traffic control strike to fly to Toulouse, southwest France, to name the plant after "Father of Airbus" Roger Beteille, a pioneer of twin-engined long haul passenger jets.

Built in response to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the A350 is Europe's first contribution to a new generation of jets designed to cut airline fuel bills by using mainly lightweight carbon-composite materials instead of the heavier aluminium.

Airbus and Boeing expect total demand for more than 6,000 such mid-sized, long-range jets over the next 20 years and their arrival is leading to new routes bypassing crowded hub airports.

It is a market worth several hundreds of billions of dollars and is set to upstage the largest jetliners such as the Airbus A380 superjumbo and the latest version of Boeing's 747.

But both firms face huge construction challenges for the revolutionary jets, woven and baked out of carbon fibre that is stronger and lighter than metal but costlier to produce. Neither the A350 nor the 787 is expected to make a profit for years.

Airbus says the A350 will take to the skies in the summer of 2013 and enter service in the second half of 2014, a year later than originally scheduled. Three different models of the aircraft will seat between 270 and 350 people.

The competing 787 went into service in Japan a year ago after complications with a ground-breaking production system and global supply chain delayed its first deliveries by three years.

Even before Tuesday's inauguration, the 74,000-square metre Toulouse plant has been building the first A350 that will never fly but will be shaken apart in stress tests.

Full production will now begin in earnest ahead of next year's maiden flight, rising to 10 planes a month by late 2018.

The factory ceremony comes as competition intensifies for the sales of jets to Asia and other fast-growing markets.

The largest model, the A350-1000, will also compete against Boeing's 777 mini-jumbo, which boasts the world's largest jet engines and dominates a lucrative market just below 400 seats.

Boeing lifted production of the 777 overnight in the wake of record sales and analysts say it is poised to launch a new stretched Dreamliner, to be called the 787-10.

That could slow a rally in sales of the older Airbus A330 which soared as airlines scrambled for capacity to cope with growing traffic, as 787 delays left them short of seats.

Boeing is due to publish third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Airbus is also involved in disputes with the United States and even one of its founder nations, Germany, over the funding for the A350, whose development is estimated at $15 billion.

The United States has accused Europe of ignoring recent World Trade Organization rulings by subsidizing the aircraft through development loans, while Germany has withheld part of its share of the loans in a row with Airbus over jobs.

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Just glad that it is not another A300 inspired look airliner again for the A350...

 

Looks pretty similar to 787, btw...

Well the original design (non-XWB) had the same diameter fuselage and the airlines did not like that. That was why we had the XWB. With computer aided design, the similarity to the B787 is not surprising. However, it is a little wider than the B787.

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800x600_1353674420_A350_XWB_static_test.jpg

 

The A350 XWB is readied for static testing

 

Airbus’ A350 XWB static test airframe has moved into the facility where it will undergo testing to validate the structural design of this next-generation jetliner

 

The airframe rolled out of the A350 XWB final assembly line at Toulouse, Blagnac Airport earlier this week and was transferred to the L34 static test hall situated across the airport in the Lagardère industrial zone – home to the A380 final assembly line

 

This clears the way for the A350 XWB airframe to be integrated into a test rig for a campaign that will submit it to nearly a year of evaluations, including limit load and ultimate load validations, along with residual strength and margin research

 

The L34 static test hall covers an area of 10,000 square meters, and is supported by 200 workers during peak testing activity. It houses a rig that incorporates 2,500 tons of steel and 240 jacks/loading lines, which are used to induce structural loads. The testing is recorded by some 12,000 sensors.

 

The static test airframe was the first to be built on the A350 XWB’s new Roger Béteille final assembly line in Toulouse, and was the “star” during Airbus’ inauguration ceremony for this production facility in October. The airframe is sized to represent the A350-900 version of Airbus’ newest jetliner family, which is the intermediate aircraft of the three fuselage-length versions: the A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000.

 

800x600_1353674355_A350_XWB_static_test2.jpg

 

800x600_1353674726_A350_XWB_static_test_night_shot2.jpg

 

Source: http://www.a350xwb.com/#timeline/8195

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May be those are temporary wheel supports? It has red on it and doesn't looked like the production ones.

 

Just hoping she is not going to be another fugly bus....

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is it me or the bogies are only one pair of wheels each? i thought its going to be at least a double!

 

SV is right. They are only temporary to move the fuselage around production line. Check Airliners.net forum.

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Airbus planes don't really look sexy but they get the job done.

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Airbus planes don't really look sexy but they get the job done.

 

Boeing planes look sexy and get the job done! Function and aesthetic :)

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800x600_1354610765_A350_XWB_MSN1_journey

First flyable A350 XWB 'MSN-001' structurally complete

 

Aircraft makes its first journey ‘on wheels’


4 December 2012

Airbus has successfully completed the main structural assembly and system connection of A350 XWB ‘MSN-001’ – the first flight-test aircraft. The aircraft is depicted here on its wheels for the very first time moving out of the main assembly hall (Station 40) at the recently inaugurated “Roger Béteille” A350 XWB Final Assembly Line in Toulouse. It then entered the adjacent indoor ground test station (Station 30).

 

The assembly work performed in Station 40 included the successful electrical power-on of the aircraft's entire fuselage and wings. Soon work in Station 30 will start by testing the aircraft's hydraulic system, followed by the full electric and hydraulic power-on of the aircraft which will be completed by around the end of the year. This will mark the start of several weeks of comprehensive functional system testing.

 

After the A350 XWB MSN-001 exits station 30, the aircraft will go through a series of extensive production and certification / development tests, be painted and have its engines installed. It will then be delivered to the flight-line and be readied for its first flight in mid-2013.

 

800x600_1354610766_A350_XWB_MSN1_journey

 

800x600_1354610769_A350_XWB_MSN1_journey

 

Source: Airbus

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Airbus CEO: No reason to change A350 electric architecture

 

By Kurt Hofmann | January 17, 2013

 

Announcing that 2012 was a record year for aircraft orders and deliveries, Airbus executives steered clear of criticizing the grounded Boeing 787. They also said they remained satisfied with the electric architecture of the new Airbus A350 XWB.

 

Briefing journalists in Toulouse on year-end results, Airbus CEO and president Fabrice Bregier said it was too early to analyze FAA’s decision, announced late Wednesday, to ground US-registered 787s and issue an emergency airworthiness directive regarding the aircraft’s lithium ion batteries. The batteries are the focus of two investigations into incidents earlier in January; a fire that broke out on a parked Japan Airlines 787and a battery leak on an All Nippon Airways aircraft that was forced to do an emergency landing.

 

“We like to say, in this industry, that both Boeing and Airbus give same priority to safety. This is paramount. There is a decision of FAA and this decision confirms that aviation is one of the safest transportation around the world,” Bregier said.

 

He said the electric architecture of the A350 and its use of lithium batteries has been through the certification process and both FAA and European regulatory authority EASA were “very happy” with the architecture. He said Airbus saw no reason at this stage to change the A350’s architecture and the manufacturer had full confidence in its robustness.

“Of course, if FAA chooses to give some direct recommendation, we will study them very carefully; they might apply to the A350. There is not more I can say at this point in time,” he said.

 

The A350’s final assembly line became fully operational in 2012, the structural assembly of the first A350 XWB that will fly was completed and “electrical power on” of the aircraft was accomplished.

 

Source: ATW

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Airbus CEO: A350 program remains challenging

 

By Kurt Hofmann | January 22, 2013

 

The Airbus A350 XWB program—which is on-target for first flight by mid-year—remains a challenge. Entry into service is expected in the second half of 2014.

Airbus currently holds 582 firm orders for the type.

 

Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier told ATW last week on the sidelines of the Airbus results press conference that he is “confident of what we have done so far. We bring more maturity for the A350.”

 

The next-generation aircraft was originally slated for entry into service in mid-2013.

 

In November 2011, Airbus pushed back entry into service of its A350-900 aircraft by six months to the “first half of 2014” due to the late availability of some key parts.

Last July, Airbus pushed back entry into service until the 2014 second half “due to the time taken for the implementation of the automated drilling process for the wings.”

 

Last month, Airbus completed the main structural assembly and system connection of the A350 XWB first flyable aircraft.

 

Brégier said so far the tests of all A350 systems in the last year have looked good, “however, this program remains very challenging.” He said Airbus has fixed all the problems identified in the past. “What I don’t know [is if we will] face another one [problem]. That’s why we are going through an 18-month testing phase,” he said.

The A350 also uses lithium batteries, but Airbus said the manufacturing and design of such batteries can vary from brand to brand. Regarding the Boeing 787 grounding, Brégier said there will be a clear outcome from the investigations by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board. “We [will] look at it and will see if it has an impact on our system,” he said.

 

SOURCE : ATW

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What does XWB stands for? Xtra Wide Body? :D

 

Hey it's not nice to call someone like that. :p

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Rolls-Royce Trent XWB gains type certificate

 

European regulators have certificated the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine ahead of the planned first flight of the Airbus A350 later this year.

 

Patrick Goudou, EASA's executive director, handed over the powerplant's type certificate to Chris Young, Rolls-Royce's director for the Trent XWB programme, at the European authority's headquarters in Cologne, Germany, on 7 February.

 

The approval covers the engines for the baseline A350-900 and planned smaller -800 variant. But the largest A350-1000 will require a higher thrust version of the engine which is still under development.

 

Airbus plans to conduct the first flight of the twinjet - which is exclusively powered by the Trent XWB - in the middle of this year.

 

The engines for the A350 prototype have already been delivered to airframer's final assembly line in Toulouse.

 

Rolls-Royce says that the certification programme involved 11 engines and led to a total runtime of around 3,100 hours.

 

Ground tests began in 2010 in the UK, while flight trials started on Airbus's A380 test bed in February 2012.

 

The certification programme included icing tests in Canada, hot weather trials in the UAE, altitude and crosswind assessments in the USA, and endurance tests in Spain.

 

Deliveries of the A350 are scheduled to begin in the second half 2014.

 

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/rolls-royce-trent-xwb-gains-type-certificate-382053/

Edited by flee

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Airbus to Drop Lithium-Ion Batteries From Newest Jet

 

 

European plane maker Airbus is dropping lithium-ion batteries from its newest jet due to concerns that regulatory uncertainty could delay initial deliveries of A350 aircraft, according to industry officials familiar with the details.

 

The decision, which was communicated to some of the company's airline customers on Thursday, is the latest sign of a growing industrywide pullback from such technology as a result of two instances of burning lithium-ion batteries aboard Boeing Co.'s BA +0.20% 787 jets last month.

 

The incidents prompted an indefinite world-wide grounding of the 787 Dreamliner fleet, while the resulting investigations and regulatory reviews have raised questions about future safety standards for rechargeable lithium batteries installed aboard planes.

 

Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co., EAD.FR -0.82% originally intended to use four rechargeable lithium batteries on each A350 to provide electrical power on the ground and backup power in the air. But now, according to these officials, the plane will be delivered with conventional nickel-cadmium battery systems.

 

Airbus expects the plane to make its first flight this summer, and then to undergo a series of flight tests and seek certification from European aviation authorities by early 2014. Airbus has said it expects the A350 to begin flying passengers by the middle of next year.

 

The decision to jettison lithium technology, according to these officials, was prompted primarily by schedule rather than safety considerations. Airbus still intends to start testing the A350 in the air with lithium-ion batteries aboard, since that configuration is ready to start the early flights. That indicates the plane maker's belief that its battery design is safe, since Airbus personnel will be conducting the tests.

 

But when the plane is officially certified and eventually delivered to start commercial flights, it will be equipped with only conventional batteries.

 

In the wake of Boeing's battery woes, various Airbus and industry officials publicly suggested that the European plane maker eventually might reconsider its commitment to lithium batteries. But Thursday's messages to future A350 operators highlight how quickly Airbus opted to take another path, even before definitive findings are released about what caused the Boeing incidents.

 

Industry officials said that Airbus is intent on avoiding delays in the event that months from now—when the A350's testing schedule is locked in—regulators from Europe or the U.S. decide to impose more-stringent standards to prevent fires or ruptures of lithium batteries.

 

Makers of business jets also have their share of concern with the future regulation of such rechargeable power systems. Long before the Boeing incidents, the Federal Aviation Administration mandated replacement of lithium-ion batteries with conventional batteries on one Cessna Citation business-jet model after a fire occurred while the plane's battery was being recharged on the ground.

 

In the roughly six years since the FAA established safety criteria for the 787, both the agency and an industrywide standard-setting group issued tougher testing requirements for lithium batteries on aircraft. The recent 787 incidents, however, have prompted scrutiny of the FAA's original standards.

 

Looking ahead, Airbus and other manufacturers worry that additional design and testing changes may be necessary to comply with further revisions of those standards.

 

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324432004578304651988705748.html

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Airbus installs Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and Honeywell APU on A350 XWB MSN001

 

26 March 2013

Airbus has installed on the first flight-test A350 XWB (MSN001) its two flight-ready Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and is also installing the new Honeywell HGT1700 auxiliary power unit (APU) at Airbus’ production facilities in Toulouse (France).

 

The new Trent engines were both received from UTC Aerospace Systems (formerly Goodrich) which had recently prepared the fully integrated powerplants prior to their installation on the aircraft’s pylons. Last month the Trent XWB received Engine Type Certification from EASA, confirming that the engine had fulfilled EASA’s airworthiness requirements for flight. The Trent XWB has already powered a series of test flights on Airbus’ A380 Flying Test Bed (FTB) aircraft since February 2012, demonstrating a high level of maturity.

 

In parallel to the mounting of the two Trent XWB engines in Toulouse, the A350 XWB is also this week being fitted with its new specially developed APU – the Honeywell HGT1700 which has greater power density and higher efficiency than the previous generation APUs.

 

With the installation of its engines and also the APU, the A350 XWB MSN001 becomes essentially a ‘completed’ aircraft. Following the ongoing ground tests, other preparations and also painting in the coming weeks, MSN001 will then be handed over to the Airbus Flight Test team to commence preparations for ground runs and maiden flight in the summer.

 

Source: Airbus

 

Edited by flee

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