Fokker Aerostructures extends the Outboard-Flap design&build contract for the A350-1000 model

Fokker Aerostructures has signed an important contract with Airbus for the development and manufacturing of the Outboard Flap for the A350-1000, the largest variant of the A350 XWB family of aircraft.

Development activities have already started in close collaboration with Airbus in Bremen, where a team of Fokker engineers is co-located on-site with the Airbus team. First hardware deliveries are scheduled for 2015. The new contract means employment for 50 highly qualified specialists at Fokker.

Fokker is the supplier of the outboard flaps for all variants of the Airbus A350 XWB family.

The Outboard Flap for the A350-800 and A350 -900 variants has also been designed by Fokker and is currently in production in Papendrecht.

This contract recognizes Fokker’s position as a specialist in smart lightweight aerostructures. Fokker and Airbus have a long standing business relationship. The company is also a supplier on the Airbus A380 for the Glare® (glass fibre reinforced) fuselage panels, the thermoplastic leading edge and the wiring systems.

“We are delighted with this new contract, which enables us to further strengthen our business relations with Airbus and which brings highly qualified employment to the Netherlands. It is also an excellent achievement for the Dutch aerospace industry, the strong knowledge infrastructure with universities, knowledge centers and specialist suppliers ensures continuous innovation and integrated solutions which are highly valued by our customers” said Hans Büthker COO of Fokker Technologies.


Based on the article “Fokker krijgt nieuwe order voor Airbus A350” published in RTL

The MSN1 in the air again; the first flight prototype resumes the A350 Flight tests.

The first month from the 14/June that the MSN1 airborne was dedicated to test the complete envelope of the aircraft in 15 flights for 92 hours. This phase1 was finished in one month (15/July) and it has been necessary another month to resume the Test Program.

The FTI Flight Test Instrumentation has been updated and many data from the first month deeply studied to start this phase2 with new and different tests scheduled with the target of freezing the aircraft´s aerodynamic configuration.

The MSN1 has taken off from the “new” 32R runway of the Toulouse airport at 10:33h (local time) this morning and flight to the Rochefort and La Rochelle area in the Atlantic coast.

The MSN1 has landed at 16:35h (local time) completing a flight of 6 hours and 2 minutes.

The ADHF "advanced dropped hinge flap" patented by Airbus onboard the A350 XWB. Simpler than a conventional flap, half tonne weight reduction and tested in the High lift ‘zero’ rig.

The high lift system is one of the most mechanically complex systems on the aircraft.
The system comprises a complex series of mechanical drive-shafts, actuators and linkages that deploy the slat and flap systems for take-off and landing.

Due to the potential to generate roll asymmetry that could not be controlled if deflections were different between left and right hand wings, the systems also comprises a complex detection system to lock the slats and flaps in place if a failure is detected. The A350 XWB high lift system also includes new technology with the Advanced Drop Hinge Flap (ADHF) system.

A new trailing-edge high-lift system has been adopted with an advanced dropped-hinge flap (similar to that of the A380), which permits the gap between the trailing edge and the flap to be closed with the spoiler.

A stub flap is subject to simulated air loads generated by pneumatic cylinder being compressed by a hydraulically operated frame.

The Airbus high lift ‘zero’ rig, located in Bremen (Germany), consists of a complete left hand ‘wing’ with all the systems that will be found installed on MSN001. The aircraft structure is not present and is replaced by a steel structure to allow the system to be installed and operated. The right hand wing is simulated by a high technology electro-hydraulic brake system. This test rig is used to perform many safety tests prior to the first flight to ensure safety. A number of tests are performed on this rig that would be too dangerous to perform in flight – deliberate failures of shafts or drive links, for example.

The A350 XWB high lift ‘zero’ has been operational since late 2011 and was upgraded to full MSN001 configuration with real flaps installed in September 2012

The new high-lift flap, which has been patented by Airbus, is a dropped hinge design and consists of a beam with a rotation point. Designated as the "advanced dropped hinge flap," it is simpler than a conventional flap and requires less moving parts, resulting in a half tonne weight reduction. It is also easier and less costly to maintain.

Spirit Aerosystems CFO Anderson: "We are running a little hot on development" on Airbus A350.

Spirit AeroSystems has reported 2nd Quarter Results Including ($448) Million in Charges. The Key Announcements from Ongoing Strategic and Financial Review were that they are initiating the process to divest Oklahoma sites and other general messages as “Aligning to support our customers and programs”, “Adding talent to our leadership team” and “Reducing costs”.

Focused on the A350 XWB program, there is an important data regarding deliveries on 2013: only 1 A350 shipset delivery in Q2/2013 (April-May-June). In 2012 there were delivered 3 aircraft and in 2013 there are another 3. These figures imply a delay on the schedule that could impact the EIS planned for 2nd half/2014 with the delivery of the MSN6 to Qatar.

Additionally, Airbus is helping Spirit with an advance payment of $50 million on 2012 “associated with a customer agreement on the A350 XWB fuselage program.” Airbus support includes a specific team on-site reporting directly to the Head of Program Didier Evrard.

Meanwhile, it seems that Spirit is on track for 10 per month build rate on 787 for Boeing.


Based on the article “Spirit AeroSystems Q2 profits hit by charges” published in The Wichita Business Journal

Toulouse-Blagnac airport´s new runway number 1 (14L-32R) ready for intense A350 XWB test program

After more than 2 months of work, the runway number 1 (14L-32R) of the Toulouse-Blagnac airport is already in service again. As per Mr. Jean-Michel Vernhes, the airport president, the new runways will allow the takeoff of large aircraft including the new A350 XWB.

The runway that was built in 1938 and was rebuilt and extended twice after the second world war, it has been entirely rebuilt since 3/June.

click on the picture to watch the video (in French)

It took several months of preparation since the beginning of the year, and more than 2 months of construction to achieve the project.. The 3 km long and 45 m wide runway required the contribution of some 70.000 tonnes of gravel, pebbles and various materials, and two layers of asphalt pouring oil specially produced by two production factories.

The new runway number 1 will now host without problems the A330, A350 and A380 assembled in Airbus site.



Based on the report “Aéroport Toulouse-Blagnac : la nouvelle piste ouverte” published in France3

More details about the first –virtual- flight in the A350 “cabin 0”. US Airways pilot with 8 Cathay Pacific cabin crew to flight from Tenerife to Hamburg.

Last 25/July in 'cabin 0', part of the cabin integration test centre in Finkenwerder, some Airbus employees joined a “flight” from Tenerife to Hamburg, where the crew from Cathay Pacific provided realistic and impressive cabin service, serving Caesar salad and chicken with pepper sauce from the integrated galleys.

The objective of the test was to ensure system maturity at EIS -entry into service, verifying operability and analyzing the consequences of passenger and crew behavior under conditions which are as close as possible to a reality. For that reason, for example, the US Airways pilot repeatedly asked passengers to fasten their seat belts because of the risk of turbulence.

Every passenger received a 'job card' for testing the systems which ensured that the long flight never became tedious. When the captain announced the landing, sound effects, including thrust reversal, completed the illusion and brought a round of applause.

This verification and validation platform allows AIRBUS to test technical and ergonomic features of the interior furnishings before the aircraft is ready, giving an enormous advantage in terms of time and knowledge.

The 5-hour session in cabin 0 was the first time that a representative section of the A350 XWB fuselage fitted with real cabin systems has been used in this way.

There is almost a potential A350 customer that is interested in the 10-abreast high-density economy seating layout.

The 10-abreast high-density economy seating layout study for the A350 is now "on offer" said Caudron, adding that "there is a potential A350 customer that is interested" in the layout.

The A350 has an exit limit of 440 passengers with the standard four-door (per side) configuration, but this would increase to 475 with the optional additional fifth door installed, said Caudron.

However, while the minimum seat pitch for the A350 in 9-abreast layout is 29in (74cm), this will increase to 31in pitch for 10-abreast seating to avoid the need to reinforce the cabin floor for the higher density configuration.

The project study is “looking at the option of taking what is the equivalent of an A330 seat when it is configured at 9-abreast to make a 10-abreast A350”, said Airbus. AirAsia X is taking 25 A330-300s configured in this high-density arrangement with 392-seats.

“This is an opportunity that looks at the very highest levels of operating cost efficiency. In this configuration, the operating cost per seat could not be matched by any other aircraft. We’d have to go to an 11-abreast A380 to achieve similar levels.”


Based on the article “Reduced MTOW A350 offered for medium-haul operations” published in Flight Global.