TOUOLUSE- European planemaker, Airbus unveils state-of-the-art world’s largest cargo door fitted on A350 Freighter Aircraft mock-up, which looks stunning. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2026.
A350F will have a maximum payload of 111 Tonnes. While Airbus has not yet released a formal payload-range chart, they have previously indicated that the aircraft can achieve ranges of 4,550nm at 111t and 4,700nm at 109t.
Airbus A350 Freighter Cargo Door
The aircraft’s main-deck cargo door, branded by Airbus as the ‘XL,’ will have a width of 4.3m (169.5in). Last year, specifications for the aircraft listed the door opening at just under 4.2m. Airbus claims it will be the “largest cargo door on the market.”
The XL door on A350F is designed to transport all current and future ultra-fan aero engines and allow the one-go entry of the longest items. This simplifies the operations as operator can transport any items through the cargo deck.
Furthermore, it offers comfortable clearances and ensures safe and easy ground operations, minimizing the risk of damage to the surrounding structure and avoiding delays and flight cancellations.
Airbus has designed the A350 freighter, to be named the -1000F, with a 70.8m fuselage, shorter than the passenger -1000 but longer than the -900. Airbus has so far secured orders for 55 A350F aircraft including Taiwanese STARLUX Airlines (JX).
Also Read: Airbus Rolls out New and Last of 6 BelugaXL – Aviation A2Z
53-years old aerospace company states that designing the A350F has taken years of expertise and engineering, drawing knowledge from the Beluga and A300-600F.
Competing with Boeing
Let’s see how its competition US aerospace company, Boeing is doing in this space. Boeing’s 777F and Israel Aerospace Industries’ 777-300ERSF conversion have main-deck door widths of 3.7m. Boeing indicates the upcoming 777-8F will also have a 3.7m door.
The A350F will offer the same volume capacity as the Boeing 747-F but with five Tonnes more payload capability than the 777F, ensuring robust performance for a wide range of operators.
In a separate update, Airbus has also inaugurated a cutting-edge assembly line for the A321XLR in Hamburg, marking a significant milestone in the aircraft’s production ramp-up.
Airbus remains on track to deliver the first customer A321XLR to Iberia (IB) in the third quarter of 2024, pending certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
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