{"id":37746,"date":"2023-07-04T21:17:18","date_gmt":"2023-07-04T15:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=37746"},"modified":"2023-07-04T21:17:23","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T15:47:23","slug":"airbus-to-test-new-wings-of-tomorrow-at-its-filton-facility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/04\/airbus-to-test-new-wings-of-tomorrow-at-its-filton-facility\/","title":{"rendered":"Airbus to Test New Wings of Tomorrow at its Filton facility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UNITED KINGDOM-<\/strong> Airbus<\/a>, the renowned aerospace company, is gearing up to conduct a destructive test on an experimental wing as part of its technologies initiative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comes as the company unveils its newly established Wing Technology Development Centre at its UK site in Filton. Subsequently, dedicated to advancing wing research for future projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The facility will primarily construct and test demonstrators for various aerospace endeavors. This includes Airbus’s groundbreaking Wing of Tomorrow program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Airbus,
Photo: Airbus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Airbus Wings of Tomorrow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wing of Tomorrow aims to explore innovative technologies that can be integrated into lightweight, low-drag wings. The objective is to enhance performance and fuel efficiency by incorporating broader spans and higher aspect ratios. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the program seeks to assess the feasibility of implementing these technologies at a low cost. Further applying them to high-volume aircraft production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sue Partridge, the Head of Airbus Wing of Tomorrow, spoke at a briefing in Filton. She emphasized the center’s focus on next-generation wing technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She highlighted the center’s ability to leverage the site’s extensive engineering expertise and testing capabilities, enabling the research to be rooted in practicality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experimental wing, recently delivered to the facility, is the second wing developed under the Wing of Tomorrow program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initial wing, completed last year, is located at the Airbus plant in Broughton. Further, it is used for modular assembly and integration work. A third wing is scheduled to be assembled by 2025 to test the rate capability of the selected technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Airbus,
Photo: Airbus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Airbus at Filton Facility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the Filton facility, the experimental wing will undergo structural analysis of its composite components, including primary sections and fasteners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim is to validate its strength and failure calculations. It is important to note that the experimental wing does not represent a fixed design for a future Airbus aircraft. Rather, it is an “out-of-cycle” platform to explore various prospective technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experimental wing will be joined with a bespoke partial center wing box to prepare for the test regime. This significant milestone marks the first wing-body join at Filton since the site manufactured the legendary supersonic BAC-Aerospatiale Concorde aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The combined structure will later be transferred to the plant’s Aerospace Integrated Research and Test Centre, attached to a sturdy wall, and subjected to physical loading until destruction occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the challenges in developing wings with broader spans is the limited maneuvering space at airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address this, the Wing Technology Development Centre will support the analysis of folding wing-tip designs. Wing-tip boxes have already been manufactured, and a partner will supply a folding mechanism for integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While folding wing tips have been implemented in the Boeing 777X and military aircraft to optimize space on constrained aircraft carrier decks, Partridge emphasizes the need for further research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wing of Tomorrow program explores 45m spans, necessitating a 4.5m folding tip, unlike ICAO Code C aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, with spans of less than 36m. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partridge explains that accommodating such a folding system within a single-aisle wing presents significant spatial constraints, highlighting the importance of reliability in commercial aircraft, as opposed to the military context. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, broad spans may introduce complexities like integrating flight-control systems into the folding section and addressing power-supply bridging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Airbus,
Photo: Airbus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Folding Tip Demonstrator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The folding-tip demonstrator is slated for completion in the autumn of this year and will be installed in the AIRTeC facility for reliability and loading tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complementing the Wing of Tomorrow program is the ‘eXtra Performance Wing’ project, led by Airbus’s innovation arm, UpNext. This project involves the assembly of a composite wing, which will possess active control features to offload stresses during flight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To test the technology, the wings of a Cessna Citation VII executive jet will be replaced with the composite wing, allowing it to fly unmanned over a French air force base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partridge explains that this composite wing is a scaled-down version that could potentially be adapted for larger commercial aircraft. It incorporates additional features, building upon the advancements explored within the Wing of Tomorrow program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on Telegram Group <\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Airbus is Making Progress Toward its Goal of Hiring More Than 13,000 in 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>