24 April 2020:The programme development and industrialisation of A321XLR is gathering pace with the long-lead components for the flight test already in production since the start of the year. The main landing gear forgings are manufactured by Safran and the first parts for the centre wingbox by Airbus in Nantes.
Since the launch of A321XLR long range single-aisle programme at the Paris Air Show last year, the aircraft's design is fast moving from concept to reality.
Recently Airbus completed the supplier selection for the new major components and systems which are specifically being designed for the A321XLR variant.
The suppliers are:
- Spirit Aerospace for inboard single-slotted flap
- Diehl Aviation for potable water & water waste systems
- FACC for modified belly fairing
- Premium Aerotec for rear-centre fuel tank primary structure
- Collins Aerospace for fuel system
- Parker Aerospace for fuel tank inerting system
- Vincorion for heated floor panels
- Safran for main and nose landing gear and
- Triumph Group for landing gear uplock mechanism
Till date, 24 customers have ordered a total of more than 450 A321XLRs, validating the market need for the unique capabilities offered by this aircraft. Flight-testing is due to start in 2022, and service entry from 2023. The A321XLR will provide airlines with a range of up to 4,700nm and a 30 per cent lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous-generation competitor aircraft.
The A321XLR program will apply Airbus' new "digital design, manufacturing and services" (DDMS) product lifecycle approach wherever relevant.
- This enables accurate virtual factory simulations to validate investments and ramp-up planning
- A key pillar of the DDMS framework is the 3D "Digital Mock-up Unit" (DMU) database
- This will allow concurrent design, assembly simulations, and real-time 3D visibility across the transnational co-design plateaus at Toulouse, Hamburg and Filton
- The A321XLR programme brings the benefits of 3D visualisation to the non-engineering community, including programme managers - who can now work in 3D thanks to 3D viewer tools.
Apart from these digital transformations, the complementary physical demonstrators installation is also going on for validation and verification' (V&V) of the various new structures and equipment.
For example, the Structures Demonstrator programme includes 'major component assembly' (MCA) join-up of fuselage sections 15 & 17, fuselage integration of the new rear-centre-[fuel]-tank, plus other modules and detailed parts. In parallel, the Equipment Demonstrator programme features physical trial installation in a full-size wooden mock-up by a multi-functional team representing each installed system, with experts from Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Maintenance and Ergonomics. This approach minimises design clashes, as well as optimising ergonomics. Testing of the cabin comfort for long-range operations has already started, including the use of a climatic test chamber on ground.