Airbus launches three-year flight test campaign for Wing of Tomorrow programme
Airbus is to flight test longer wings for its next generation of single-aisle aircraft in a new three-year campaign under its Wing of Tomorrow research programme.
The planemaker announced the campaign at Farnborough on Monday.
Full-scale wing extensions, each measuring several metres, will be designed, built and fitted to an A321neo test aircraft to evaluate how different wing shapes perform in real flight conditions.
The extensions will replicate a folding wing in its fully extended position and will carry testing equipment to measure how the longer wingspan affects aircraft handling.
Wing of Tomorrow is one of Airbus’ largest research and technology programmes and is centred on developing longer, lighter and more slender wings to cut fuel burn on the aircraft that will eventually replace the A320 family.
The wings for the current A320 family, including the A321neo, are built at Airbus Broughton, one of the largest private sector employers in Wales.
The wing extensions are to be assembled at the company’s Wing Technology Development Centre in the UK and flight tested in Toulouse.
Sue Partridge, Airbus Head of Wing of Tomorrow programme, 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.”
She said: “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.”
Airbus is using digital modelling and wind tunnel testing to finalise the designs of the extensions before they fly.
The company has already built three 17-metre ground-based wing demonstrators under the programme to explore the advantages of increased wingspan and to trial more than 100 manufacturing and assembly technologies.
Since 2014, Wing of Tomorrow has been backed by £227 million from the Aerospace Technology Institute programme, a partnership between the ATI, the Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK.
A separate Airbus project, the eXtra Performance Wing, is developing a wing that can change shape during flight.
Assembly of that demonstrator is nearing completion in Cazaux, southern France, with a remotely piloted maiden flight planned by the end of 2026.
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