Midlands technologies play vital roles on Airbus's latest aircraft.
The first of three A350-1000 development aircraft to fly has successfully completed its first flight in Toulouse.
Powered by Rolls-Royce’s new Trent XWB-97 engines designed and made in Derby, the aircraft traversed south-western France, during which the crew explored the aircraft’s handling and flight envelope. The aircraft was accompanied by a chase plane to observe and film the various manoeuvres. Its progress was monitored by experts on the ground in real-time via a direct telemetry link.
The A350-1000 is the latest member of the Airbus widebody family. As well as having a longer fuselage to accommodate 40 more passengers than the A350-900, the A350-1000 also features a modified wing trailing-edge, new six-wheel main landing gears and more powerful Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. To date 11 customers from five continents have placed orders for a total of 195 A350-1000s.
The A350-100 features a range of technologies made in the Midlands in addition to its engines. Moog in Wolverhampton is responsible for the high-lift flight controls' actuation system, for example, with neighbouring UTC Actuation Systems designing the electrically powered thrust reverser actuators.
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