Airbus has moved a step closer to building a new generation of experimental aircraft wings in the UK after its Wing of Tomorrow programme entered the flight test stage.
The aerospace manufacturer has announced a three-year flight-test campaign that will see full-scale wing extensions designed, built and tested as part of efforts to develop more efficient wings for future single-aisle aircraft.
The wing extensions will be assembled at Airbus’ Wing Technology Development Centre (WTDC) in Filton, near Bristol, before being transported to Toulouse, France, where they will be fitted to an A321neo test aircraft for flight evaluation.
The programme represents another milestone for the UK’s long-standing role in Airbus’ global wing development strategy, with Filton responsible for the research, design and development of next-generation wing technologies.
The demonstrator wing extensions, each measuring several metres in length, will replicate a folding wing in its fully extended position during flight. Equipped with extensive instrumentation, they will enable Airbus engineers to gather real-world performance data and assess how longer wings affect aircraft handling and aerodynamic efficiency.
Airbus said the flight-test campaign will build on advanced digital modelling and wind tunnel testing currently being used to refine the designs before they are evaluated in operational flying conditions.
Sue Partridge, Head of the Wing of Tomorrow programme at Airbus, said: “For more than 50 years, Airbus has spearheaded aviation innovation, continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to deliver more efficient aircraft for future generations. This is why the Wing of Tomorrow programme is such an exciting and rewarding journey to be on.
“Importantly, the wing is one of the biggest levers we have to improve flight efficiency, which is why the Wing of Tomorrow is so critical for our next generation single aisle aircraft. This flight-test campaign will allow us to safely challenge traditional design limits and explore the benefits of longer wings.”
The Wing of Tomorrow programme is focused on developing longer, lighter and more slender wings capable of improving aerodynamic performance and reducing fuel consumption on future aircraft.
Airbus has already produced three 17-metre ground-based wing demonstrators through the programme, using them to investigate the benefits of increased wingspan alongside more than 100 new manufacturing and assembly technologies.
Since its launch in 2014, the programme has received £227m in funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme, a partnership between the ATI, the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK aimed at maintaining the UK’s position as a global leader in aerospace technology.
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