A350XWB får ikke bare en ny nese...

[brendas]

Da A350XWB ble lansert på Farnborough i fjor skulle flykroppen lages av AlLi, så fikk den industrial launch i desember, dengang med plater laget av CFRP, lagt utenpå en aluminiumsramme, og nå endres dette etter all sannsynlighet igjen. Det har gått rykter om dette siden februar, da GT la inn en notis om dette i atw, og her kommer litt mer nytt på denne fronten fra samme kar:

Airbus is set to make yet another design change to its A350 XWB, this time dumping composite panels on an aluminum frame for an all-composite barrel.

Pressure from major customers such as Emirates and ILFC is believed to be the catalyst for the pending revamp. News of the move, first flagged by this website in January (ATWOnline, Jan. 26), comes the same week that Boeing started final assembly on the 787.

While Emirates President Tim Clark told media the Dreamliner's finish resembled "a polished silver coffeepot," Airbus has been getting mixed reaction to its composite panel concept. Trade studies have been underway in Toulouse since late last year, according to company insiders. Last fall, ATWOnline revealed that Airbus was switching to the composite panel design from all-aluminum and that the aircraft's entry into service would slip to 2014 (ATWOnline, Oct. 25, 2006).

This latest change may push the EIS further out, but Clark told this website he repeatedly has told Airbus that "while the EIS is of concern, you must get it [the design] right." Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways have pushed a similar message. Clark also has emphasized to the manufacturer that the future lies in a 787-style composite barrel structure, saying, "That is the way [the industry] is going to go."

Many at Airbus have been concerned that the A350 XWB "would be blown away" if Boeing turned to an all-composite 777 that could be built and enter service before the A350. With its rival capitalizing on a technology that eventually will flow through to both a 777 and a 737 replacement, Airbus must choose whether to move forward with an all-composite barrel or be left behind. Clark has stressed that he is "sold on the 787's 40% reduction in maintenance," something not possible with an aluminum frame.

Hele artikkelen kan leses her:
http://www.atwonline.com/

[Desk pilot]

Tror Airbus ikke har noe annet valg enn å bygge flykroppen i 100% komposittmateriale. Aluminium-Lithium er en spennende legeringsgruppe, men jeg tror den gir relativt små forbedringer i forhold til de mer tradisjonelle aluminiumlegeringene. Dermed er det kompositter som gjelder dersom man vil konkurrere med Boeing.


Mine :2cents

[Someone]

Når har forresten Airbus tenkt å låse designet på 350?

[LN-KGL]

Låsingen skjer i oktober 2008