Aircraft
Airbus Gives Update On A350-1000
Airbus attempts to head off 777X threat with “on plan” A350-1000.

Airbus A350-1000 manufacturing is under way, with Airbus reporting last month the laying up of the first carbon fiber elements, to be followed in the coming weeks by the first cutting of metal parts, according to program executive vice president Didier Evrard. Establishment of systems-installation design maturity is said to be “on plan,” while work continues on the variant’s structural design phase, which will permit the start of engineering drawing. Structural design maturity “incorporating all requirements” also was completed by mid-June.

The first stretched variant of the A350XWB (Xtra widebody) is likely to appear after 60 to 70 examples of the A350-900 have been built. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that there is “a lot to do; nothing [is taken for] granted, nothing a given.”