Airbus is meticulously preparing for the future. In fact, Airbus is escalating testing on a new wing technology, a critical step in establishing the groundwork for a possible successor to the A320 series, their top-selling aircraft. However, Airbus faces the daunting challenge of reducing costs.
According to a report from Reuters, Nusrat Ghani, the British Industry Minister, unveiled a novel wing technology facility in southwest England. This plant is dedicated to crafting wings that are more slender, lighter, and longer. These features, along with folding wingtips, aim to facilitate more sustainable flight.
Setting the Pace for Aviation Rivalries
This innovation coincides with Boeing’s exploration of a similarly futuristic concept known as Transonic Truss-Braced Wings. The choice of wing design and production techniques, together with engine advancements, is set to significantly influence aircraft competition throughout the rest of the century.
While this research could potentially enhance any project, Airbus is focusing on a successor to the A320 single-aisle model. This new aircraft could make its debut between 2035 and 2040.
The Future of Single-Aisle Aircraft
Discussing a series of demonstrator models, Sue Partridge, who oversees the company’s Wing of Tomorrow program, said, “This is about getting technology ready for a future single-aisle product, so a high (production-)rate product.” She further emphasized the necessity of advancing composite technologies to reduce the wing’s weight while maintaining affordability and production-rate capability.
The Airbus A320 family, and its competitor, the Boeing 737, feature aluminum construction. However, designers believe that composites could enable future wings to be tapered in new, efficient ways.
Innovation Drives Airbus Forward
Airbus is considering the possibility of constructing wings without the use of autoclaves, pressure ovens that are space and energy-intensive. The only existing jet that has fully adopted this method for wings is a new Russian model. However, implementing this technique for Airbus or Boeing production volumes would demand substantial investment and cost reductions.
To accommodate the increased span of more slender, fuel-efficient wings, Airbus is exploring folding wingtips, similar to the Boeing 777X.
While this is a very promising research that can affect the future of commercial aircraft, the main stumbling block is the higher production cost of composite parts. This price gap is more challenging to justify on competitively priced models like the A320 and 737 than on larger jets that already employ composites.
There is no timeline as to when Airbus would decide between the numerous technologies under test but they are ready for any business decision on a new program. It is estimated that any project slated for 2035 would need to start by 2027-28.
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