A350: overweight, design freeze, 10 abreast and carbon panel tester

기준 모델인 에어버스 350-800의 디자인 동결시점이 다가오는 가운데 이 모델의 연장형인 1000버젼은 2년 후에나 디자인 동결이 될 예정이라고 합니다.

A350-900 is approaching design freeze whilst its larger variant has still two more years to go until design freeze.

한편, 에어버스 350이 과체중이라는 기사가 나와 눈길은 끌고 있습니다. 주요원인은 카본 패널을 사용함으로서 생기는 부차적인 무게 증가라고 합니다. 8톤 가까이 과체중이라고 합니다만, 현재 디자인 단계에 있는 항고기를 가지고 무게를 왈가왈부 하는 것은 좀 어불성설인듯 합니다.

Further, some article is claiming that A350 is over weight attributed to its unique carbon panel structure. However, for aircraft at drawing board stage such comment does not mean anything.

Also this week Airbus horribly revealed the possibility fit in 10 abreast in A350 which approximates to the 11 abreast in A380 in main deck. Whilst A350 is certainly wider than A330 it is still 20cm or so less wider than B777. This act is believed to be done to prove that A350 is upto the level of B777 in terms of capacity. In terms of comfort level it would mean disaster however. Quite a handful of profit conscious airlines uses 10 abreast B777 and 9 abreast in A330/340 but many Asian carriers tends to use 9 abreast in B777 and 8 abreast in A330/340.

Image courtesy of Airbus EADS

Meanwhile, carbon panel concept tester is being completed in Airbus factory in St Nazaire. Initial tester will have 11m but larger 18m version is also being developed. Boeing has done similar proof of concept test bed for its now somewhat troublesome B787. In future, these will be tested in Airbus Hamburg facility.

Image Courtesy of Airbus EADS

17m Wing tester is also being developed in UK from parts made in Spain and Germany

A350, Carbon Paenl, desing freeze, overeight, seating