Airbus A350

infobox Aircraft
subtemplate= Infobox Airbus airliners
name = Airbus A350
type = Wide-body jet airliner
manufacturer = Airbus

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caption = Airbus A350 XWB concept
first flight = 2011 (scheduled)
introduction = 2013 (scheduled)
status = Under development
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost = A350-800 - $208.7 million A350-900 - $240.6 million A350-1000 - $269.6 million [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/22/223184/airbus-includes-surcharge-in-2008-catalogue-prices.html Airbus includes surcharge in 2008 catalogue prices] ]
variants with their own articles =

The Airbus A350 is a long range, mid-sized, wide-body family of airliners currently under development, designed to compete with the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787. The A350 will be the first Airbus with fuselage and wing structures made primarily of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. [http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/7/19/41508197.pdf Taking the lead: A350XWB presentation] "EADS"] It is scheduled to enter into service in 2013.

Development

Early designs

When Boeing announced its 787 Dreamliner project, it claimed the lower operating costs of this airplane would make it a serious threat to the Airbus A330. Publicly, Airbus initially rejected this claim, stating that the 787 was itself just a reaction to the A330, and that no response was needed to the 787.

The airlines pushed Airbus to provide a competitor, as Boeing had committed the 787 to have 20% lower fuel consumption than today's equivalent types. Initially Airbus proposed a simple derivative of the A330, unofficially dubbed the 'A330-200Lite', with improved aerodynamics and engines similar to those on the 787. The airlines were not satisfied and Airbus committed €4 billion to a new design to be called the A350. The original version of the A350 superficially resembled the A330 due to its common fuselage cross-section and assembly. A new wing, engines and a horizontal stabilizer were to be coupled with new composite materials and production methods applied to the fuselage to make the A350 an almost all-new aircraft.

On 16 September 2004, then Airbus president and CEO Noël Forgeard confirmed that a new project was under consideration, but did not give a project name, and would not state whether it would be an entirely new design or a modification of an existing product. Forgeard indicated that Airbus would finalise its concept by the end of 2004, begin consulting with airlines in early 2005, and aim to launch the new development programme at the end of that year.

On 10 December 2004 the boards of EADS and BAE Systems, then the shareholders of Airbus, gave Airbus an "authorisation to offer (ATO)", and formally named it the A350." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4085631.stm Airbus to launch Boeing 7E7 rival] ." BBC News. 10 December 2004.]

On 6 October 2005 full industrial launch of the program was announced with an estimated development cost of around € 3.5 billion. This version of the A350 was planned to be a 250–300-seat twin-engined wide-body aircraft derived from the design of the existing A330. Under this plan, the A350 would have modified wings and new engines while sharing the same fuselage cross-section as its predecessor. Controversially, the fuselage was to consist primarily of Al-Li, rather than the CFRP fuselage on the 787. It was to see entry into service in 2010 in two versions; the A350-800 capable of flying 8,800 nautical miles (16,300 km) with typical passenger capacity of 253 in 3-class configuration and the 300-seat (3-class) A350-900 with 7,500 nautical mile (13,890 km) range. It was designed to be a direct competitor to the 787-9, and 777-200ER.

Almost immediately Airbus faced criticism on the A350 project by the heads of two of its largest customers, ILFC and GECAS. On 28 March 2006, in the presence of hundreds of top airline executives, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, of ILFC lambasted Airbus' strategy in bringing to market what they saw as "a Band-aid reaction to the 787," a sentiment which was echoed by GECAS president Henry Hubschman. Udvar-Hazy called on Airbus to bring a clean-sheet design to the table, or risk losing most of the market to Boeing." [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2002896362_boeing29.html Airplane kingpins tell Airbus: Overhaul A350] ." Gates, D. "Seattle Times". 29 March 2006.] " [http://www.leeham.net/filelib/ScottsColumn040406.pdf Redesigning the A350: Airbus’ tough choice] ." Hamilton, S., Leeham Company.]

Several days later, similar comments were made by Chew Choon Seng, CEO of Singapore Airlines. Chew stated, "having gone to the trouble of designing a new wing, tail, cockpit" and adding advanced new materials, Airbus "should have gone the whole hog and designed a new fuselage."" [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114442937150720186.html Singapore Airlines Says Airbus Needs to Make A350 Improvements] ." Michaels, D. and Lunsford, J. L. "The Wall Street Journal". 7 April 2006.] At the time, Singapore was reviewing bids for the 787 and A350.

Airbus responded by stating it was considering improvements for the A350 to satisfy customer demands." [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002923790_airbus11.html Criticism prompts Airbus to study options, CEO says] ." Rothman, A. Bloomberg News. 11 April 2006.] At the same time, Airbus then-CEO Gustav Humbert suggested that there would be no quick fixes, stating, "Our strategy isn't driven by the needs of the next one or two campaigns, but rather by a long-term view of the market and our ability to deliver on our promises."" [http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20060410&ID=5603964 Airbus Considering Improvements to A350] ." Associated Press. 10 April 2006.]

On 14 June 2006, Singapore Airlines announced it had selected the 787 over the A350, ordering 20 787-9s. [http://boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q2/060614b_nr.html Singapore Airlines 787 Dreamliner Announcement] Press release] Emirates Airline decided against making an order for the initial version of the A350 because of weaknesses in the design." [http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1090115.ece Pressure mounts following attack by Emirates] ." Brierley, D. The Independent. 18 June 2006.]

XWB

As a result of these criticisms, in mid-2006 Airbus undertook a major review of the A350 concept. The proposed new A350 was to become more of a competitor to the larger Boeing 777 as well as some models of the Boeing 787, with a larger fuselage cross-section able to accommodate 9 passengers per row in a high-density configuration. The A330 and previous iterations of the A350 would only be able to accommodate 8 passengers per row in normal configurations. The 787 can accommodate 8 or 9 passengers per row, while the 777 can accommodate 9 passengers per row (in a small proportion of their 777 fleet, these airlines seat 10 passengers abreast: Emirates, KLM, and China Southern). From the point of view of a seated passenger, the A350 cabin is 13 cm (five inches) wider at eye level than the competing Boeing 787, and 28 cm (eleven inches) narrower than the Boeing 777, its other competitor. All A350 passenger models will have a range of at least 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km).

There was some speculation that the revised aircraft would be called the Airbus A370 or A280, with Airbus going as far as accidentally publishing an advert referring to the aircraft as the "A280" on the "Financial Times" website. However, on 17 July 2006, at the Farnborough Airshow, Airbus announced that the redesigned aircraft would be called A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body).

Airbus achieved its first sale of the redesigned A350 four days after its unveiling when Singapore Airlines announced an order for 20 A350 XWBs with options of a further 20. Its CEO, Chew Choon Seng, said in a statement, that "it is heartening that Airbus has listened to customer airlines and has come up with a totally new design for the A350." [http://business-times.asiaone.com/mnt/html/pdf/SIA_july21.pdf Singapore Airlines orders 20 Airbus A350 XWB-900s and 9 Airbus A380s] ]

Late in 2006 a decision on formal launch was delayed as a result of delays of the Airbus A380" [http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/10/02/Navigation/177/209601/A380+delay+puts+brakes+on+A350+XWB+formal+launch+at.html A380 delay puts brakes on A350 XWB formal launch at Airbus] ." Norris, G.; Kingsley-Jones, M. "Flight International". 10 October 2006.] and wrangles about how the development would be funded. EADS CEO Thomas Enders stated that the A350 program was not a certainty, citing EADS/Airbus' stretched resources." [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aYeQTI21_ZDY&refer=germany Airbus May Stop Work on Its A350 Plane, FT Deutschland Says] ." Dinkloh, P. Bloomberg. 2006-10-05.] " [http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2006/10/05/afx3068756.html Airbus CEO Streiff says A350 programme essential, but EADS board to decide] ." "Forbes". 5 October 2006.] On 1 December 2006 the EADS board agreed the industrial launch of the sixth iteration" [http://www.amtonline.com/article/article.jsp?sitesection=1&id=3030 Airbus Gets OK to Compete with Boeing 787] ." "Chicago Sun-Times" via "Aircraft Maintenance Technology". 21 December 2006.] A350 with costs mainly borne out of cash-flow. First delivery for the -900 is scheduled for mid-2013, with the -800 and -1000 following on, respectively, 12 and 24 months later.cite press release | title= A350 XWB Family receives industrial go-ahead | publisher =EADS Airbus| date =2006-12-01 | url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_12_01_A350_XWB_go_ahead.html | accessdate =2006-12-01] At a press conference 4 December 2006 a few new technical details of the A350 XWB design were revealed, but no new customers were identified and John Leahy indicated existing A350 contracts were under re-negotiation due to increases in prices compared to the original A350s contracted.

On 4 January 2007, Airbus announced that Pegasus Aviation Finance Company had placed the first firm order for the A350 XWB with an order for two aircraft, though the variants were unspecified at the time.cite press release | title =Pegasus Aviation Finance Company orders two A350 and six A330-200s | publisher =EADS Airbus| date =2007-01-04 | url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/01_04_07_Pegausus.html | accessdate =2007-01-10]

The Airbus board of directors approved the industrial launch of the A350-800, -900 and -1000 in December 2006. The XWB will impose a couple of years of delay into the original timetable and almost double development costs from $5.3 billion to approximately $10 billion." [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aW1OpAimXpY8&refer=europe Airbus Unveils New A350 to Take on Boeing's 787] ." Bloomberg. July 17 2006.] " [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=arBlbUi8MnWE&refer=home Airbus A350 Cost Rises to $15.4 Billion on Composites] ." Bloomberg. December 4 2006.]

During 2007 Paris Air Show, Airbus won firm orders for 141 A350 XWBFact|date=October 2007 and at the Dubai Airshow it won firm orders for 165 A350 XWB.

Design

In September 2007, Airbus rolled out new design advances to a gathering of 100 representatives from existing and potential XWB customers. The A350 XWB will be built on the technologies developed for Airbus A380 and will have a similar cockpit and fly-by-wire systems layout. Airbus claim that 52% of the aircraft will be made out of composites, 20% Al/Al-Li, 14% titanium, 7% steel and 7% the balance. [http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/12/12/Navigation/179/211028/Airbus's+A350+vision+takes+shape+-+Flight+takes+an+in-depth+look+at+the+new.html Airbus's A350 vision takes shape] "Flight International" December 2006] This compares to the Boeing 787, which consists of 50% composites, 20% aluminium, 15% titanium, 10% steel and 5% the balance. [ [http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family/programfacts.html 787 fact sheet] "Boeing"] October 2008 is the Airbus internal goal to freeze the design and Airbus expects 10% lower airframe maintenance cost and 14% lower empty seat weight than competing aircraft.http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/7/19/41508197.pdf Taking the lead: A350XWB presentation] "EADS"]

Airbus claims that the new design provides a better cabin atmosphere with 16% humidity level during flight cruise and typical cabin altitude at or below 6000 ft, pressurization at convert|6000|ft|m|abbr=on and flow management system that adapts cabin airflow to passenger load with draft-free air circulation.http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/7/19/41508197.pdf Taking the lead: A350XWB presentation] "EADS"]

Fuselage

The new XWB fuselage will have a parallel cross-section width from door 1 to door 4, unlike previous Airbus aircraft to provide maximum usable volume. The double-lobe (ovoid) fuselage cross-section will have a maximum outer diameter of 5.97 m (compared to 5.64 m for the A330/A340). The cabin's internal diameter will be 5.61 m wide at armrest level (compared with 5.49 m of the 787 [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/28/217395/pictures-airbus-unveils-mock-up-of-a350-xwb-cabin.html Airbus unveils mock up XWB cabin] "Flight International" September 2007] and 5.86 m of the 777).

In the eight abreast two-four-two arrangement, which is a standard layout, the seats will be 19.5 in (49.5 cm) wide between 2-in wide arm rests. Airbus claims that the seat width will be 0.5 in greater than the seat on the 787 in the equivalent configuration. In the nine abreast, three-three-three high density layout, the XWB's seat width will be 17.7 in which will be 0.5 in wider to the proposed equivalent seat layout for the Boeing 787. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/28/217395/pictures-airbus-unveils-mock-up-of-a350-xwb-cabin.html Airbus unveils mock up XWB cabin] "Flight International" September 2007]

Although Airbus previously suggested Boeing's use of composite materials for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fuselage was premature, and that the original A350's would be made from aluminium-lithium, the new A350 XWB will feature large carbon fiber panels for the main fuselage skin. After facing criticism for maintenance costs, [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/05/08/206441/airline-criticism-of-airbus-a350-forces-airframer-to-make-radical-changes-to-fuselage-wing-and.html Airline criticism of A350 forces Airframer to make radical changes to fuselage] "Flight International" May 2006] Airbus confirmed in early September 2007 the adoption of composite fuselage frames for the aircraft structure. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/21/216943/airbus-rolls-out-a350-xwb-design-revisions.html Airbus rolls out XWB design revisions] "Flight International" September 2001] [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/03/29/205740/airbus-is-at-a-crossroads-on-a350-design-says-ilfcs.html Airbus is at a crossroads on A350 design says ILFC] "Flight International" March 2006] The composite frames will feature aluminium strips to ensure the electrical continuity of the fuselage (for dissipating lightning strikes. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/28/217062/metallic-strips-will-ensure-electrical-continuity-in-a350s-carbon.html Metallic strips will ensure electrical continuity in A350 carbon] "Flight International" September 2007] ) However, the fuselage crossbeams remain metallic, but Airbus is running trade-off studies to evaluate switching them to composite. Airbus had signed a firm contract with BMW to have them develop an interior concept for the original A350. [ [http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2006/01/05/afx2430232.html BMW to design parts of Airbus A350 model, reportedly aircraft cabins] "Forbes". 5 January 2006]

Wings

The A350 will feature new all-composite wings that will be common to all three proposed variants. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/12/12/211030/why-new-wing-is-key-a350-xwb.html Why new wing is key A350 XWB] "Flight International" December 2006] With an area of 443 m² (4,740 ft²) it will be the largest wing ever produced for a single-deck widebody aircraft. The geometric wingspan of 64 m (210 ft) is 3.7 m greater than that of the A330 and the original A350. The current biggest twinjet wing belongs to the long-range Boeings 777-200LR/777-300ER, which have 0.7 m greater span but slightly less area. The new wing will have 35 degrees of sweep (5 degrees more than the A330) helping to increase typical cruise speed to Mach 0.85 and maximum operating speed to Mach 0.89.

Airbus is currently working on the detail of the wings' aerodynamics and it will not freeze the final configuration until the October 2008 design freeze milestone. 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. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/05/08/213737/airbus-a350-wing-aerodynamics-advance.html Airbus A350 wing aerodynamics advance] "Flight International" May 2007] The manufacturer has carried out 1800 hours of low-speed windtunnel testing and results have led to a slight reduction of the static engine's thrust due to a better low-speed performance than anticipated. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/26/217106/airbus-lowers-a350-xwb-engine-thrust-requirements.html Airbus lowers A350 XWB engine thrust requirements] "Flight International" September 2007] High-speed performance testing has begun at the European Transonic Windtunnel in Cologne, Germany and a final decision regarding winglet configuration is expected soon. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/10/01/217288/airbus-starts-a350-xwb-high-speed-testing.html Airbus starts A350 XWB high speed testing] "Flight International" October 2007] When?

Airbus is planning a £570 million (US$760 million) investment to upgrade composite capability at its Broughton site in the United Kingdom, in preparation for its role as final assembly location for the A350 XWB wing. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/03/30/212959/airbus-invests-in-a350-xwb-wing-line.html Airbus invest in A350 XWB wing line] "Flight International" March 2007]

Nose

The XWB's nose section will adopt a configuration derived from the A380 with a forward-mounted nosegear bay and a six-panel flightdeck windscreen. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/21/216949/airbus-confirms-switch-to-a380-style-nose-for-a350-xwb.html Airbus confirms switch to A380 style nose for A350 XWB] "Flight International" September 2007] This differs substantially from the four-window arrangement that was proposed in the original design. The new nose will improve aerodynamics and enable overhead crew rest installed further forward and eliminate any encroachment in the passenger cabin. The new windscreen has been revised to improve vision by reducing the width of the center post. The upper shell radius of the nose section has been increased.

The nose is likely to be constructed from aluminium but Airbus is currently running trade-off studies considering one-piece carbon fiber structure. According to Gordon McConnell, A350 Chief Engineer, a carbon fiber structure would need titanium reinforcements for birdstrike protection, thus the aluminium structure is the best cost-wise. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/12/19/211187/a350-could-have-composite-nose.html A350 could have composite nose] "Flight International" December 2006]

Cockpit

The new revised design of the cockpit have gone away from the A380-sized display and have adopted a 15-in (38 cm) LCD displays. The new six-screen configuration will have two central displays mounted one above other (the lower one above the thrust levers) and a single (for each pilot) primary flight/navigation display with an on-board information system screen adjacent to it. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/25/217029/picture-airbus-reveals-all-new-a350-xwb-flightdeck-design.html Airbus reveals all new A350 XWB flighdeck design] "Flight International" September 2007] Airbus claim the new cockpit will allow them to put more advances in navigation technology on the displays in the future plus flexibility and capacity to upload new software and to combine data from multiple sources and sensors for flight management and aircraft systems control. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/24/215493/a350-avionics-to-expand-on-a380-systems.html A350 avionics to expand on A380 system] "Flight International" July 2007] The A350 XWB will also feature a head-up display.

The avionics will be a further development of the integrated modular avionics (IMA) concept found on the A380. The A350's IMA will manage up to 40 functions (versus 23 functions for the A380) such as landing gear, fuel, brakes, pneumatics, oxygen system, full cabin pressurisation system and fire detection. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/24/215493/a350-avionics-to-expand-on-a380-systems.html A350 avionics to expand on A380 systems] "Flight International July 2007] Airbus claims benefits such as reduced maintenance and less weight because IMA replace multiple processors and LRUs with around 50% fewer standard computer modules known as line replaceable modules. The IMA runs on a 100 Mbit/s network based on the avionics full-duplex (AFDX) standard, already employed in the A380 instead of the Arinc 429 system on the A330/A340.

On January 2008, French-based Thales Group won the US$2.9 billion 20-year contract to supply avionics and navigation equipment for the A350 XWB. Thales had been competing against Honeywell and Rockwell Collins for the flight deck supply contract. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/21/220969/airbus-selects-thales-for-a350-xwb-cockpit-avionics.html Airbus selects Thales for A350 XWB cockpit avionics] "Flight International" January 2008] . However, US-based Rockwell Collins and Moog Inc has been chosen to supply the horizontal stabiliser actuator and primary flight control actuation, respectively.

Engines

Airbus has confirmed that they will retain a full bleed air system on their engines," [http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRheft/FRHeft06/FRH0609/FR0609b.htm Airbus Unveils A350 XWB] ." Steinke, S. "Flug Revue". September, 2006.] [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/07/25/208086/farnborough-airbus-a350-powerplant-race-ignites-as-rolls-royce-reaches-agreement-to-supply-trent.html Farnborough: Airbus A350 powerplant race ignites as Rolls-Royce reaches agreement to supply Trent] "Flight International July 2006] rather than the bleedless configuration used on the Boeing 787. Rolls-Royce has agreed with Airbus to supply a new variant of the Trent engine for the A350 XWB, currently called the "Trent XWB". After the low-speed windtunnel test, Airbus has frozen the static thrust at sea level for all three proposed variants in the 74,000-92,000 lb range.

GE has stated it will not offer the GP7000 on the aircraft, and that previous contracts for the GEnx on the original A350 did not apply to the XWB. [ [http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=8150|ATW Daily News - No GP7000 for A350 XWB-1000] ] Fellow Engine Alliance partner Pratt & Whitney seems to be at odds with GE on this, publicly stating that they are looking at an advanced derivative of the GP7000. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/20/221701/singapore-2008-pratt.html Singapore 2008: Pratt & Whitney pushes GP7000 as alternative A350 XWB engine] ]

In April 2007, Airbus former chief executive Louis Gallois held face-to-face talks with senior General Electric management over finalizing the possible go-ahead of a new variant of the GEnx engine for the A350 XWB. Airline pressure for a GE engine option is believed to be coming particularly from US Airways and Singapore AirlinesFact|date=September 2008, as well as others within the A350 orders group that either originally selected GE or that have not yet settled for the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered option. But on June 2007, Rolls-Royce announced that it had signed its biggest ever contract with Qatar Airways for the Trent XWB to power 80 A350 XWBs on order from Airbus worth $5.6 billion at list prices [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/04/20/213347/airbus-lobbies-general-electric-to-offer-genx-for-a350.html Airbus lobbies General Electric to offer GEnx for A350 XWB] "Flight International" April 2007] and in June 2007, Airbus' Chief Operating Officer John Leahy indicated that the A350 XWB will not feature the GEnx engine, claiming that Airbus wants GE to offer a more efficient version for the new Airbus airliner. [ [http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=191ded2c-3425-4c2f-987a-c4a4d0adfced Airbus Says No To GEnx For A350 XWB] "Aero News Network" June 7, 2007 ] Since then, largest GE engines operators Emirates, US-based US Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and ILFC have selected the RR Trent XWB for their future fleet of A350.

The "Trent XWB" will feature a 118 in (3 m) fan diameter and the design will be based on the advanced developments of the Trent 900 (Airbus A380) and Trent 1000 (Boeing 787). The "Trent XWB" may also benefit from the next-generation reduced acoustic mode scattering engine duct system (RAMSES), which is a noise-dampening engine nacelle intake and a carry on design of the Airbus's "zero splice" intake liner developed for the A380. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/01/23/211641/airbus-a350-xwb-set-to-be-quietest-generation-of-airliner-as-manufacturer-improves-zero-splice.html Airbus A350 XWB set to be quietest generation of airliner as manufacturer improves zero splice] "Flight International" January 2007]

Engine thrust-reversers and nacelles will be supplied by US-based Goodrich Corporation.

Auxiliary power unit and air management system

The A350 XWB will feature a 1,700 shp HGT1700 auxiliary power unit by Honeywell, which has 10% greater power density than the previous generation of the Honeywell's 331 APU family. Honeywell will also supply the air management system which comprise the bleed air, environmental control, cabin pressure control and supplemental cooling systems. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/19/216864/honeywell-wins-first-contract-to-supply-systems-for-airbus-a350-xwb.html Honeywell wins first contract to supply systems for Airbus A350 XWB] "Flight International" September 2007] The ram-air turbine will be now localized on the belly and the generator requirement is 100 kVA compared to 150 kVA for the A380. The selection of US-based Honeywell supplier is part of Airbus strategy to select complete work packages to a smaller number of major suppliers who are becoming system integrators on the programme. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/09/28/217090/airbus-finalises-a350-work-packages.html Airbus finalises A350 work packages] "Flight International" September 2007]

Fuel and hydraulic systems

US-based Parker Aerospace has been selected to supply the complete fuel package, which include inerting system, fuel measurement and management systems, mechanical equipment and fuel pumps. The fuel tank inerting system will feature air-separation modules to generate nitrogen-enriched air that will be used to reduce the flammability of fuel vapour in the tanks.

The company will also provide hydraulic power generation and distribution system. The work packages cover the reservoirs, manifolds, accumulators, thermal control, isolation, software and a new engine- and electric motor-driven pump designs. Parker Aerospace estimates the contracts will generate more than US$2 billion in revenues over the life of the programme. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/21/220947/parker-wins-2-billion-systems-contract-for-the-a350.html Parker wins $2 billion system contract for the A350.] "Flight International" January 2008]

Landing gear

Airbus has adopted a completely new philosophy for the attachment of the A350 XWB’s main landing gear as part of the switch to a composite wing structure. Each XWB's main landing gear leg is going to be attached to the rear wing spar forward and to a gear beam aft, which itself is attached to the wing and the fuselage. To help reduce the loads further into the wing, a double side-stay configuration has been adopted. This solution resembles the design of the Vickers VC10. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/05/28/214238/pictures-airbus-adopts-vickers-vc10-landing-gear-concept-for-a350-xwb.html Airbus adopts VC-10 landing gear concept for A350 XWB] "Flight International" May 2007]

Airbus devised a three-pronged main landing gear design philosophy encompassing both four- and six-wheel bogies to ensure it can keep the pavement loading within limits. The A350-800 and A350-900 will both have four-wheel bogies, although the -800's will be slightly shorter to save weight. Both will fit in the same 4.1 m (13.5 ft) long bay. The proposed higher weight variant, the A350-1000, A350-900R (Airbus is offering BA a variant called the A350-900R, which will have a range of about 9,400 nautical miles. This would allow the airline to schedule direct Heathrow-to-Sydney flights.) and A350-900F will use a six-wheel bogey and a 4.7 m landing gear bay. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/03/27/212895/extended-range-a350-900r-adopts-1000s-six-wheel-gear.html Extended range A350-900R adopts -1000 six-wheel-gear] "Flight International" March 2007] French-based Messier-Dowty has been confirmed to be providing the main landing gear for the new XWB. The nose gear will be supplied by Liebherr-Aerospace. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/12/10/220195/messier-dowty-confirmed-as-a350-xwb-main-gear-supplier.html Messier-Dowty Confirmed as A350 XWB Main Gear Supplier] "Flight International" December 2007]

Variants

There are three variants of the A350 and all launched in 2006. The A350-900 is scheduled to enter service in 2013. The A350-800 is scheduled to enter service in 2014. The last model to enter service will be the A350-1000 scheduled in 2015.

A350-800

The A350-800 will seat 270 passengers in a 3-class cabin and will have a range of 8,300 nmi (15,400 km). It is designed to compete with the Boeing 787-9 and to directly replace Airbus' own A330-200.

A350-900

The A350-900 is the first model scheduled to enter service (EIS) in 2013 and seats 314 passengers in a 3-class cabin 9-abreast layout. The aeroplane will have a range of 8,100 nmi (15,000 km). Airbus claim that the A350-900 will have a decrease of 16% MWE per seat, a 30% decrease in block fuel per seat and 25% better cash operating cost against the Boeing 777-200ER [ [http://leeham.net/filelib/Leahy_Final.pdf John Leahy presentation at Paris Le Bourget 2007 Air Show] "Airbus"] . A -900R and -900F variant also is being proposed but not launched yet and will feature the higher engine thrust, strengthened structure and landing gear of the -1000 [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/03/27/212895/extended-range-a350-900r-adopts-1000s-six-wheel-gear.html Extended range A350-900R adopts -1000 six-wheel-gear] "Flight International" March 2007] .

A350-1000

The A350-1000 is scheduled to enter service in 2015. It is the largest variant of the A350 family and will seat 350 passengers in a 3-class cabin. It will have range of 8,000 nmi (14,800 km).

Orders and deliveries

As of 30 September 2008, 29 customers have placed 458 firm orders for the A350XWB. [cite web | url = http://www.airbus.com/odxml/orders_and_deliveries.xls | title = Airbus orders & deliveries | publisher = Airbus S.A.S | date = 30 September 2008 | accessdate = 2008-10-08 ] There are 182 orders for the A350-800, 226 for the A350-900 and 50 for the A350-1000.

pecifications

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Airbus A330
* Airbus A340
* Airbus A380
similar aircraft=
* Boeing 777
* Boeing 787
sequence=
lists=
* List of civil aircraft
see also=
* Competition between Airbus and Boeing

References

External links

* [http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/a350/ The A350 on the Airbus website]
* [http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/7/19/41508197.pdf The A350 presentation at Paris Airshow 2007]