The most stylish plane. Airbus A350. Airbus A350 (Airbus A350). Photo. Video. Interior layout. Characteristics. Reviews
The Airbus A350 is a wide-body long-haul passenger aircraft developed by Airbus in 2013.
Interior overview and layout of the best seats
The passenger cabin of the Airbus A350 aircraft typically seats 314 people in a three-class layout (first, business and economy class) or 366 in a two-class layout (business and economy class). The A350 variant with a two-class layout is more common among global airlines, so we will dwell on it in detail.
Business class is located in the forward part of the passenger cabin of the Airbus A350. Typically, business class seats are occupied by rows with numbers from 1 to 12 (as shown in the diagram of the passenger cabin of the aircraft). There are 2 fairly wide aisles, and the seats are arranged according to the “1-2-1” pattern. Business class has soft and comfortable seats, generally located slightly at an angle, which provides more legroom and the ability to recline the seats in a way that is convenient for passengers to fully relax during the flight. In some aircraft models, the seats can recline 180 degrees, which allows them to be turned into comfortable beds. Business class passengers are offered a delicious menu with a wide selection of dishes and drinks. The seats are also equipped with multimedia entertainment systems, which allows you to brighten up your time during the flight.
By far, business class seats are the best seats on the Airbus A350. However, for some places there are certain inconveniences. First of all, this applies to seats located in rows 1 and 12 (according to the diagram). They are located close to the toilets and utility rooms of the airliner, which can become a serious problem for those passengers who want to relax during the flight. The constant movement of passengers and staff past these places, the sounds of doors opening and closing can seriously interfere with relaxing holiday and, ultimately, even ruin the entire impression of the flight. It is also worth adding that the lights near the toilet facilities, as a rule, do not turn off at night, so when booking tickets for business class seats, you should definitely take these features into account.
Next to business class is the economy class cabin. Its seats are located in rows with numbers from 13 to 41 (according to the diagram). The Economy Class cabin has two aisles that are slightly narrower than those in Business Class, with seats arranged in a 3-3-3 pattern. Economy class seats are soft, comfortable, equipped with comfortable armrests and can recline back to a certain angle. The distance between the seats complies with international standards and is usually about 80 centimeters.
The best seats in the economy class cabin for the Airbus A350 are located in row 13. Their convenience and advantage is explained by the fact that they are located directly next to the partition separating the business class cabin from the economy class. This means there is more legroom, and no one in front will recline the seat, thereby limiting this space. Also, an obvious advantage of these places is that, as a rule, the distribution of food begins precisely from them, and, therefore, passengers here have the widest choice of dishes and drinks. However, these places have their own specifics. Thus, there are special facilities for infants here, so passengers with children will most likely fly in these seats. This fact means that seats in the thirteenth row are not recommended for people who want to relax quietly during the flight or for people who cannot tolerate fuss or screaming children.
Also, some of the best seats in economy class will be those located in row 14 and marked with the letters C and G (according to the diagram). There are no seats in front of them, no one reclining the seat, and, again, these seats are located near the entrance to economy class, so there will be a choice of food and drinks. The seats in row 26, which are located in the second section of the economy class cabin, are also very comfortable, which means there is plenty of legroom here too.
The seats in rows 25, 40 and 41 are not the best in economy class on the Airbus A350. The proximity to toilets and utility rooms can cause frequent queues near these seats, bustle and heavy traffic, even at night. Passengers who occupy seats in row 40, adjacent to the aisles, have a doubly hard time: with constant movement, passengers strive to inadvertently catch or touch them. The seats in row 41 can easily be called the worst in the entire plane for the same reason. On top of that, there may be an unpleasant smell from the toilet, the sound of water being flushed, and stuffiness. It should also be noted that seats in row 41 are categorically not recommended for people with a weak vestibular system - the view through the windows is very seriously limited here, since the row only occupies seats in the middle, between two aisles.
History of creation
The competition between Airbus and Boeing has long been the talk of the town and is known today, perhaps, to all aviation enthusiasts. Historically, Airbus aircraft were conceived to create worthy competition for Boeing aircraft and vice versa.
The history of the creation of the Airbus A350 began in 2005, when Boeing announced the development of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (“Dream Liner”), which was supposed to seriously compete with Airbus aircraft due to its more economical operation. The airlines operating Airbus aircraft took this announcement as a challenge and made every effort to negotiate with Airbus Industrie to create a new wide-body passenger airliner that would be even more economical to operate, to compete with the not yet mass-produced Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Initially, the Airbus A350 aircraft was conceived as a replacement for the Airbus A330 and Airbus A340 aircraft. It should be noted that in fact, the first models of the new aircraft were based on the A330, but with an improved design and greater comfort. However, potential customers did not need a new modification of the A330, so the Airbus concern was forced to finance the creation of an almost new model of the Airbus, called the A350. At the same time, the design of the new airliner was based on composite materials, new methods of manufacturing the fuselage, as well as more modern on-board electronics. Representatives of the Airbus concern also announced that the new aircraft will be more economical than the new Boeing 787, which will create serious competition for it.
In 2006, redesign of the Airbus A350 began. The new model, designated Airbus A350XWB (Extra-Wide Body), features greater passenger capacity while maintaining a high flight range. The first flight of the machine took place in June 2013, and in 2018 its commercial operation began. The first flight was made by Qatar Airways.
As of autumn 2013, 764 Airbus A350 orders were made. During the period from 2014 to 2018, this order was completed by 5% - 37 aircraft were delivered to customers.
Airbus A350 modifications
Today there are 3 main modifications of the Airbus A350.
- Airbus A350-800 is the first aircraft model capable of carrying from 270 passengers with a three-class passenger cabin layout to 375 (with a single-class cabin). The introduction of the Airbus into operation was planned in 2014, but in September of the same year the project was officially closed. The reason for its closure was the refusal of the Airbus concern to develop and produce the A350-800 in favor of the Airbus A320neo.
- Airbus A350-900 is a modification of the Airbus, the commercial operation of which began in 2014. Capable of transporting from 314 (with a three-class layout) to 440 people (with a one-class layout of the passenger compartment). The aircraft has high efficiency, which makes it the main competitor for the Boeing 777. Currently, work is underway to develop a cargo modification of the aircraft, called the A350-900F, and an extended-range version, the A350-900R. Also based on the version, a modification of the Airbus A350-941 was created, which has increased passenger capacity and flight range.
- Airbus A350-1000 is a modification of the aircraft with the largest passenger capacity among the A350 family. Thus, the Airbus is capable of accommodating on board from 366 (with a three-class layout) to 440 passengers (with a one-class layout of the passenger cabin). In addition, among the visible features of the liner will be an increased wing area compared to previous modifications of the liner. This model was presented to the general public at an exhibition in France in the summer of 2018.
Brief overview and characteristics of the aircraft
Aerodynamically, the Airbus A350 is a low-wing aircraft with a single fin. The wing is swept (sweep 31.9 degrees). Due to the fact that the fuselage of the aircraft is 52 percent made of composite materials, its weight is definitely lower than that of airliners of the same class. Composite materials also provide additional structural strength to the A350, making it a more reliable and safe aircraft. In turn, the lighter weight of the aircraft makes its operation significantly more economical.
Due to the fact that the aircraft’s wing also mainly consists of composites, and also due to its special sweep, the aircraft is capable of developing a good maximum speed, and without any harm to the entire structure. Thus, at Airbus it was carried out a large number of tests and experiments, totaling about 4000 hours, which proved that this particular configuration of the wing and body is optimal.
The power plant of the airliner is represented by two Trent engines, the power of which depends on the aircraft model. Additionally, Airbus announced the development of Airbus A350 models specifically designed for airlines in the Middle East. In accordance with the local climate (hot and arid), the engines of these models, called “Hot and High” (“hot and high altitude”), will be able to provide greater thrust in conditions of lack of air and extreme heat. Given the great interest in the aircraft from airlines Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways - this project has a great future.
The A350 is also equipped with a Hamilton Sundstrand emergency aircraft turbine, which in critical situations can provide electricity to the aircraft's on-board electronics systems.
Technical characteristics of the Airbus A350 aircraft:
| A350-1000 | |||
| Length, m | 60,6 | 66,9 | 73,9 |
| Wingspan, m | 64 | 64 | 64 |
| Height, m | 16,9 | 16,9 | 16,9 |
| Wing area, sq.m | 443 | 443 | 443 |
| Weight | |||
| Max. take-off weight, kg | 245 000 | 265 000 | 295 000 |
| Max. landing weight, kg | 182 500 | 202 500 | 225 500 |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 150 000 | 150 000 | 150 000 |
| Flight data | |||
| Flight range with max. loading, km | 15 400 | 15 000 | 14 800 |
| Max. cruising speed, km/h | 905 | 905 | 905 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 945 | 945 | 945 |
| Ceiling (max. flight altitude), m | 13 100 | 13 100 | 13 100 |
| Engines | Trent XWB, | Trent XWB, | Trent XWB, |
| 2 x 34050 kgf | 2 x 39450 kgf | 2 x 43130 kgf | |
| Passenger cabin | |||
| Number of seats (1st class) | 375 | 420 | 475 |
| Number of seats (2 classes) | 312 | 366 | 412 |
| Number of seats (3 classes) | 270 | 314 | 350 |
| Cabin width, m | 5,6 | 5,6 | 5,6 |
Conclusion
The Airbus A350 is a new aircraft of the Airbus concern, which was originally conceived as a replacement for the A330 and A340 aircraft, as well as as a competitor to Boeing aircraft of the same class. However, it is already possible to judge the great prospects for this aircraft in the Middle East and Asian markets. The large number of existing and developed modifications allows us to confidently conclude that the machine has great potential for improvement.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
Airbus A350 XWB is a family of long-range twin-engine wide-body jet aircraft, developed by the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
The A350 is the first Airbus aircraft to feature both a fuselage and wing structure made largely from reinforced hydrocarbon fibre. A350 variants can carry from 280 to 366 passengers in a standard three-class configuration. The A350 is positioned as a successor to the aging A340 and competes with the Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 aircraft.
The idea to create the A350 initially arose in 2004. The new aircraft was supposed to combine the fuselage from the A330 model with new aerodynamic characteristics and engines. But in 2006, in response to criticism from several major potential customers, Airbus designers redesigned the aircraft, simultaneously renaming it the A350 XWB. Extra Wide Body– extra-wide fuselage). The cost of developing the aircraft is estimated at 11 billion euros.
The A350 prototype first flew on June 14, 2013 from Toulouse (France). The Airbus A350 received its European Aviation Safety Agency type certificate in September 2014, and two months later received certification from the Federal Agency civil aviation USA.
Commercial operation of the Airbus A350 began on January 15, 2015 on a flight of the airline, which acted as the launch customer for this type of aircraft.
History of creation
Early projects
The idea of creating the Airbus A350 most likely appeared as a response to Boeing's announcement of the development of a new model, which should become a serious threat to the Airbus A330.
Although at first Airbus representatives were very skeptical about the competitor’s statement, subsequently the airlines were offered an alternative in the form of the A330-200 Lite aircraft, which had aerodynamics and engines identical to the Boeing 787. Airbus planned to present this version at the Farnborough Air Show 2004, but the premiere was never did not take place.
On September 16, 2004, at a private meeting with potential customers, Noël Forgeard, then president and CEO of Airbus, confirmed information that a new project was already under consideration. At the same time, Forjar did not mention either the name of the project or any details about whether it would be a completely new development or a modification of an existing aircraft. Airline representatives were clearly disappointed; as a result, Airbus allocated 4 billion euros for a new airliner project.
The initial version of the A350 was externally reminiscent of the A330, as it shared the cross-sectional shape of the fuselage and its layout.
New wing types, engines and horizontal stabilizers, combined with new composite materials and fuselage production methods, would transform the A350 into an almost entirely new aircraft.
On December 10, 2004, the boards of directors of the European Aerospace and Defense Concern (EADS) and the UK defense company BAE Systems, which were then shareholders of Airbus, issued an "authorization" and approved official name A350.
On June 13, 2005, at the Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways announced that it had placed an order for 60 Airbus A350 aircraft. In September 2006, the carrier signed an agreement with General Electric to produce GEnx-1A-72 engines for the aircraft it ordered. Meanwhile, another major Emirates airline refused to order the original version of the A350.
Design
The launch of the project was officially announced on October 6, 2005. The costs of its development were estimated at 3.5 billion euros. The designers planned that the A350 would be a twin-engine wide-body aircraft with a capacity of 250 to 300 passengers with appearance, borrowed from the Airbus A330. According to this plan, only the engines and wing structure of the A350 would change, and the fuselage would consist mainly of an aluminum-lithium alloy, rather than carbon fiber as on the Boeing 787. It was planned to launch two versions: the A350-800 with a flight range of 16,300 km, with a standard capacity of 253 passengers in a three-class configuration and the A350-900 with a flight range of 13,900 km and a capacity of 300 passengers. Thus, this type of aircraft was supposed to become a direct competitor.
The project was publicly criticized by Airbus's largest customers, leasing companies International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).
ILFC President Steven F. Udvar-Házy called on Airbus management to start the project with a clean slate, otherwise the company risks losing its position in the market. GECAS President Henry Hubschman supported his colleague.
In April 2006, Singapore Airlines top manager Chew Choon Seng commented on the Airbus project in the sense that by changing the wing, tail and cockpit, the aircraft designer could well reconsider everything else, including the fuselage. Airbus was quick to respond to the criticism, saying it had already listened to customers and was ready to improve the A350. And then-chief executive Gustav Humbert said Airbus' strategy was based on a long-term understanding of the market and the ability to deliver on its promises. However, many major airlines opted for the Boeing 787, which undoubtedly became an incentive to rework the A350 project.
Redesign and launch
On July 14, 2006, the redesigned Airbus A350 was presented at the Farnborough Air Show. The presumptive names Airbus A370 and A280, previously mentioned in the press, never got off the ground. The aircraft was officially named Airbus A350 XWB (Xtra-Wide-Body).
Just recently, the Singaporean airline Singapore Airlines, which criticized the new Airbus project, placed an order for 20 A350 aircraft, additionally issuing an option for another 20 airliners.
The new design of the A350 made it possible to significantly expand the fuselage, which allowed airlines to offer various cabin layout options: from 8 passenger seats in one row (in a premium economy configuration) to 10 in a high-density configuration. Thus, the maximum capacity of the aircraft was 440-475 people, depending on the aircraft version.
The flight range of all A350 passenger models is at least 15,000 km, and thanks to the fuselage made of composite materials, higher pressure and humidity are maintained in the cabin. In addition, the A350 has lower operating costs.
On December 1, 2006, the Airbus board of directors gave the green light to launch production of the A350-800, -900 and -1000 models. This decision was delayed for a long time due to delays in the delivery of the A380, as well as lengthy discussions regarding financing. The first delivery of the A350-900 was scheduled for mid-2013, the A350-800 for mid-2014, and the A350-1000 for mid-2015.
At a press conference in December 2006, new technical data of the A350 XWB were disclosed; Airbus top manager John Leahy also said that already concluded contracts for the supply of the A350 had to be renegotiated due to an increase in the cost of the redesigned version of the aircraft compared to with the original version. The first firm order for two A350 XWB aircraft was placed by leasing company Pegasus Aviation Finance Company on 4 January 2007.
As a result of the redesign of the aircraft, its delivery schedule shifted by two years, and development costs increased from 5.3 billion to about 10 billion dollars. According to Reuters estimates, the total development cost of the A350 XWB ended up being $15 billion. The first delivery date, scheduled for mid-2013, was changed as long-term development delayed final assembly and first flight. As a result, the flight test schedule was reduced from 15 to 12 months.
However, according to Didier Evrard, head of the A350 XWB program, the delays affected only the A350-900 model, the other two were delivered on schedule.
Design stage
Initially, Airbus representatives openly stated that the use of composite materials in the Boeing 787 fuselage structure was premature, and that the bulk of the A350 XWB fuselage would consist of large carbon fiber panels. However, faced with criticism regarding the high cost of maintenance, Airbus had to reconsider its position. In September 2007, company representatives confirmed the use of composite materials in the construction of the fuselage frames of the new aircraft. At the same time, special aluminum lines were included in the equipment of the frames to ensure the continuity of the fuselage electrical circuit (to dissipate lightning strikes). To design the wiring, Airbus designers used a complete fuselage layout, which differs from the approach used on the A380, where all wiring design was done entirely on computers.
In 2006, it was confirmed that a new complete bleed air system would be developed for the A350, unlike the Boeing 787, which does not have one. Rolls-Royce and Airbus have signed an agreement to supply the new Trent XWB turbofan jet engine.
The largest engine manufacturer, General Electric (GE), said it will not offer GP7000 engines for the new Airbus aircraft In addition, previously concluded contracts for GEnx engines for the initial version of the A350 are not related to the XWB model.
In April 2007, Louis Gallois, then director of Airbus, held discussions with GE management regarding the development of an improved version of the GEnx engine for the A350 XWB. However, the negotiations did not bring results; already in June 2007, Airbus top manager John Leahy said that the A350 XWB would not be equipped with GEnx engines, since Airbus was not satisfied with their efficiency. Eventually largest airlines, who previously preferred GE engines, in particular Emirates, US Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, as well as the leasing company ILFC, opted for Trent 1000 and Trent XWB engines from Rolls-Royce.
In May 2009, GE representatives nevertheless stated that, if an agreement was reached with Airbus, they would offer the existing optimized GEnx engine, which is used on the Boeing 787. However, the idea of creating a new engine, superior in power to the GE90-115B used for the Boeing 777, was met GE with obvious reluctance.
In January 2008, the French company Thales Group won a 20-year, €2 billion contract to supply avionics and navigation equipment for the Airbus A350 XWB, beating competitors Honeywell and Rockwell Collins.
However, the Americans Rockwell Collins won the tender for the supply of a horizontal stabilizer drive. The primary flight control system was also developed by the American company Moog Inc. In addition, the flight control system includes several new safety features. Since 2006, BMW has been responsible for ergonomics and entertainment in the cabin. All in-flight entertainment and communications systems were supplied by Panasonic.
Production
In 2008, Airbus planned to introduce new technologies and procedures to cut aircraft assembly times by half. The A350XWB production program involved extensive international cooperation and significant investment in new infrastructure: ten new Airbus factories were built in Western Europe and the United States, three of which were subsequently expanded.
Among the new buildings, it is worth noting the composite wing assembly plant located in Broughton (UK), the construction cost of which was $760 million.
The first part for the new aircraft was produced in December 2009. Production of the first compartment of the cylindrical part of the fuselage was launched at the end of 2010 at the plant in spanish city Illescas. Construction of the first central wing box for the A350-900 was scheduled to begin in August 2010.
At the beginning of 2011, a new Airbus plant opened in China for the production of rudders located on the “tail” of the aircraft, also made of composite materials. On December 29, 2011, the forward fuselage of the first A350 was delivered to the assembly plant. Final assembly of the test model for static testing began on April 5, 2012. The first prototype was assembled in December 2012.
The production rate at the beginning of 2015 was 3 aircraft per month, and by 2018 it should gradually increase to 10 aircraft per month. In 2015, delivery of 17 aircraft was planned.
First flight and tests
The first test of the Trent engine took place on June 14, 2010. Already at the beginning of 2011, a flight test program for the Trent XWB engine was launched (on the A380 aircraft), long before its certification at the end of 2011. Trent XWB engines were first launched on the A350 on June 2, 2013. The flight test program, which lasted 12 months, involved 5 aircraft.
The first flight of the A350 took place on June 14, 2013 from Toulouse-Blagnac airport. The chief test pilot of Airbus spoke about his impressions in an interview with the Financial Times: “Everything we tested did not cause any complaints at all.”
Climate testing of the A350XWB was carried out for two and a half weeks at the unique McKinley Climate Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida (USA) in May 2014. During the tests, the A350 test model was subjected to various climatic influences, including temperature changes from +45 to -40 ° C.
Finally, the Airbus A350 received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on September 30, 2014. And on October 15, 2014, in accordance with the ETOPS flight rules, permission was issued for the modification of the A350-900 for a permissible flight time over unmarked terrain lasting 370 minutes, which allows this aircraft make flights of more than 6 hours on 1 engine. Thus, the A350 became the first aircraft to receive approval for ETOPS flights lasting more than 180 minutes before entering service.
In October 2014, Airbus also received official permission to allow pilots who previously flew the A330 to fly the A350XWB without retraining.
On November 12, 2014, the Airbus A350 received a certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Introduction and early exploitation
In June 2011, the commissioning schedule for A350 modifications was as follows:
- A350-900– first half of 2014
- A350-800– mid-2016
- A350-1000– 2017
In July 2012, Airbus delayed the introduction of the A350-900 by three months. As a result, launch customer Qatar Airways received the first aircraft on December 22, 2014. The first commercial flight on the A350 took place on January 15, 2015 between Doha and Frankfurt. A year later, the total duration of flights on A350 aircraft was 16,000 flight hours. The average duration of use of the A350 by the first operator was 11.4 hours per day, and the average duration of one flight was 5.2 hours, which is generally below the capabilities of this aircraft.
The airline that uses the A350 most actively is: 15 hours a day for, 18 hours for and more than 20 hours for.
At the initial stage of operation, difficulties arose in three areas:
1) the MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) network required software improvements;
2) Airbus issued a service bulletin on avionics and removed built-in devices (coffee makers and toasters) due to leaks;
3) In addition, Airbus had to solve a problem with false warnings about overheating in the air bleed system.
By the end of May 2016, the A350 fleet in use had accumulated 55,200 flight hours (more than 9,400 cycles), with a three-month operational reliability of 97.8%. The most long flights were from Qatar Airways: flight duration was 13.8 hours, distance 11,300 km.
The average flight duration was 6.8 hours. The interior layout varied from 253 seats to 348 seats. Accordingly, in business class there were from 30 to 46 seats, and in economy class - from 211 to 318, including premium economy.
The first A350-1000 was assembled in 2016, the first flight was carried out on November 24, 2016, and operation began in mid-2017.
Today, all the existing shortcomings of the Airbus A350 are related, rather, to aesthetics. Thus, the American airline Zodiac Aerospace is experiencing difficulties in producing cabin seats at factories in Gainesville, Texas and Santa Maria, California, and Cathay Pacific has improved or replaced seats in early versions interior of the A350.
In 2017, the number of pre-delivery flight tests decreased to 4, compared to 12 in 2014. Delivery delays decreased from 68 to 25 days. The aircraft's reliability reached 97.2% in 2015, 98.3% in 2016, and in June 2017 reached 98.8%, overall a year ahead of the forecast.
Over the course of 30 months, 80 A350 aircraft were put into operation, the largest of the 12 operators being Qatar Airways (17 aircraft), Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines (13 aircraft each).
The average flight time for this aircraft model during this time was 7.2 hours, with 53% of aircraft flying distances less than 5,500 km, 16% over 5,500 km, and the remaining 31% flying distances in between. LATAM Airlines has an average flight time of 10.7 hours, while Asiana Airlines has the shortest flight time of 3.8 hours. From Singapore Airlines Airplanes Airbus A350 operates the longest flight (13,600 km) and the shortest (296 km).
A total of 49 aircraft were delivered in 2016, and the delivery rate is expected to increase to 10 aircraft per month by the end of 2018. Cabin layouts range from 253 passenger seats for Singapore Airlines to 389 for Air Caraibes, but generally fall between 280 and 320.
Design
In September 2017, at a meeting for existing and potential customers, Airbus presented the latest developments. The A350 XWB is based on technologies developed for the A380 and features a similar cockpit and fly-by-wire remote control system.
Airbus expects airframe maintenance costs to be reduced by 10% compared to the original A350 design. In addition, according to Airbus forecasts, the cost of an empty seat in the A350 is 14% less than that of the Boeing 777. The design of the A350-900 was finally completed in December 2008.
Materials
The Airbus A350 consists of 53% composite materials: for the outer and central sections of the wing box (wing skin, stringers, spars), for the fuselage (skin, frames, keel boom and tail) and for the tail (horizontal and vertical tail stabilizers) Carbon fiber reinforced plastic is used; 19% is made up of aluminum and aluminum-lithium alloy, which are used in the construction of wing ribs, floor beams, and landing gear compartments; 14% is titanium, the chassis itself, as well as the pylons and fastenings, are made of it; 6% – steel; 8% – other materials.
In the Airbus A350, the IMA system controls about 40 different functions of the aircraft, including landing gear, fuel consumption, pneumatics, on-board systems, and fire safety (on the A380, the IMA system automated only 23 functions).
The main advantages of the IMA system are reduction in maintenance costs and reduction in aircraft weight, due to the replacement of about 50% of the various processors and quick-change units.
The IMA system operates on an AFDX (Avionics Full Duplex Ethernet) network with a speed of 100 Mbit/s.
Power point
The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine is based on the Trent 900 (from the Airbus A380) and Trent 1000 engines. It is equipped with a 118-inch fan and has two thrust levels: 370 kN for the A350-900 modification and 430 kN for the A350-1000. The forced version of the engine is equipped with modernized fans - with the same diameter, the rotation speed is slightly higher, the design of the blades has been changed. All this allows engines to operate efficiently at high temperatures.
In addition, the Trent XWB engine is equipped with a special engine nacelle with noise reduction measures.
Systems
Honeywell is supplying the A350 with the HGT 1700 auxiliary power units (APU), which are 10% more efficient than Honeywell's previous APU design for the TPE331 engines. In addition to the APU, Honeywell produces air management systems - a compressor air bleed system, an environmental control system, a cabin pressure control system and additional cooling systems. All this makes it possible to create a more comfortable atmosphere on board for passengers with a humidity of about 20% and through air circulation.
Hamilton Sundstrand supplies the A350 with 100 kVA ram-air turbines, which are located on the lower surface of the fuselage.
Despite the problems that arose, during testing the A350 aircraft were still equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which are more profitable in terms of frequency of maintenance (although the use of nickel-cadmium batteries was initially planned).
At the end of 2015, the French company Saft Groupe SA supplied lightweight lithium-ion batteries for the Airbus A350.
The Airbus A350 fuel system is entirely manufactured by the American company Parker Hannifin Corporation. This includes inertization systems, fuel measurement and control systems, mechanical equipment and fuel pumps. In addition, Parker Hannifin also supplies hydraulic system components such as reservoirs, piping, accumulators, thermal management, insulation, software and new pump designs for both aircraft and electric motors.
Airbus A350 modifications
The development of three basic modifications of the Airbus A350 began in 2006. The first aircraft to fly was the A350-900. The -1000 model began flying in 2017. Work on the -800 version was discontinued in 2014.
A350-800- a shortened version of the aircraft, designed to carry 280 passengers in a three-class configuration over a distance of up to 15,200 km. Initially, it was planned to shorten the fuselage by 10 sections and increase the range of the airliner, but after conducting research it turned out that it was very difficult to optimize the aircraft and it would practically not surpass the -900 model, which, in the end, was preferred by airlines. Ultimately, at the Farnborough Air Show, Airbus announced the A330NEO, which was intended to fill this niche market, and work on the -800 model was discontinued.
A350-900- the first basic version of the aircraft put into operation in 2014. The liner can carry up to 325 passengers in three comfort classes. The maximum flight range is 15,000 km. Airbus says the A350-900 is 30% more fuel efficient per seat and has 25% lower operating costs than the Boeing 777-200ER. The hourly fuel consumption of the A350-900 is 5800 kg/h compared to 6700 kg/h for the Boeing 777-200ER.
A350-900R- modification with increased flight range. It assumes the installation of engines with increased thrust, a reinforced structure and landing gear with a take-off weight of up to 308 tons. This makes it possible to increase the amount of fuel and range by another 1,500 km.
A350-900F- a cargo modification of the aircraft capable of delivering 92 tons of cargo over a distance of up to 9,300 km.
A350ULR (Ultra Long Range)- ultra-long-range version of the Airbus A350 with a take-off weight of up to 280 tons and a fuel volume of up to 165 tons. This amount of fuel will allow the aircraft to make 19-hour flights over long distances. The launch customer is Singapore Airlines, which ordered 7 A350ULR aircraft for flights from Singapore to the USA. However, the liner can accommodate only 170 passengers.
ACJ350 (Airbus Corporate Jet)- private jet based on the -900ULR model. The liner can carry about 30 passengers with all amenities, over a distance of up to 20,000 kilometers.
A350-1000- the aircraft with a fuselage extended to 74 meters is the largest of the A350 family of airliners. The modification accommodates up to 366 passengers in a three-class configuration and can fly over a distance of up to 14,800 km. In the market it is expected to replace the A340-600 and is a competitor to the Boeing 777X.
The fuselage of the aircraft has been lengthened by 11 sections compared to the fuselage of the -900 model. In addition, the wing elements, as well as the landing gear, have undergone changes (the main supports have six-wheeled bogies instead of four-wheeled ones). The thrust of the Trent XWB engines has also increased. With all these changes and with an increase in passenger capacity, the aircraft's flight range has remained virtually unchanged (only 200 km less than the -900 model).
Specifications
The Airbus concern's new product will soon begin operating regular flights. The Airbus A350 is expected to launch in the 4th quarter of 2014 and the first airline to operate it is Airlines ( Airways). More than 39 airlines around the world are already awaiting delivery of 812 aircraft AirbusA350. Even the airline has ordered 22 aircraft. So why the Airbus A350 has attracted the attention of many airlines around the world, you will find out in our article...
Airbus A350 (AirbusA350) history
Airbus A350XWB (AirbusA350) is a long-range wide-body twin-engine passenger aircraft, which was developed on December 4, 2012 by the Airbus concern as a replacement for the Airbus A340 and A330. AirbusA350 is the first Airbus model whose wing and fuselage are mainly made of carbon fiber material.
AirbusA350 has a maximum capacity of 440 to 500 passengers, depending on the modification.
First test flight AirbusA350-900 ( registration number F-WXWB) took place on June 14, 2013 from Toulouse-Blagnac airport (France). Currently, 5 test aircraft of this model have been produced under registration number MSN005, last launched on June 20, 2014. Thus, all 5 aircraft were involved in the certification test program. The test aircraft completed more than 500 flights lasting about 2 thousand hours. On average, each test airliner Airbus A350 flew 80 hours per month, which is a high figure in the history of Airbus test programs. As part of the world tour of the certification testing program Airbus A350 On August 11, 2014, he landed at international airport(Moscow city, Russia).
The cost of refining the Airbus A350, which was identified during testing of the model, will amount to approximately 12 billion euros.
The idea of the A350 aircraft was started in 2004 by the Airbus concern. Initially, it was planned to produce a new model to replace the Airbus A330, which would fully comply with the technical characteristics of the A330, but with an updated design.
In connection with the release of a new Boeing airliner - Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus revised the Airbus A350 project and completely changed the model. The wings, tail fins, engines were changed, and new materials were used. They even stated strongly that the Airbus A350 will be 8% more economical in fuel consumption and operating costs compared to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Commercial flightsAirbusA350 scheduled to launch by the 4th quarter of 2014. The first operator of the aircraft will be Qatar Airways, which has ordered 80 aircraft of various modifications.
What is the price of the plane? Airbus A350 (AirbusA350)?
If you want to buy an Airbus A350, then this information is for you:
- Airbus A350-800 from 260.9 million US dollars
- Airbus A350-900 from 295.2 million US dollars
- Airbus A350-1000 from 340.7 million US dollars
Advantages of the aircraft Airbus A350 (AirbusA350)
So what are the advantages of the new Airbus A350 airliner that 39 airlines around the world are waiting for it to be delivered so quickly?
- 25% less fuel consumption compared to similar categories of aircraft
- 25% less polluting emissions into the environment
- Used new material, which is lighter and stronger than aluminum, but expensive.
Airbus A350 (AirbusA350) modifications (models)
The Airbus A350 has the following 3 modifications:
- AirbusA350-800– the model provides a passenger capacity of up to 270 people. with a flight range of 15,700 km. Deliveries and operation are expected in the 4th quarter of 2014
- AirbusA350-900 - the model provides a passenger capacity of up to 314 people when accommodated in 3 classes of service with a maximum flight range of 15,000 km. Deliveries and operation are expected in the 4th quarter of 2014. In the future, Airbus plans to develop a cargo model A350-900F (Freighter)and long-haul model A350-900R.
- AirbusA350-1000 - the model provides a passenger capacity of up to 350 people when accommodated in 3 classes of service with a flight range of 14,800 km. The difference from other modifications is that the wing is enlarged by 4%. Deliveries and operation are expected in 2015.
Airbus A350 (AirbusA350) photo and interior diagram
Airbus A350 (AirbusA350) technical characteristics of models
Specifications | Airbus A350-800 | Airbus A350-900 | Airbus A350-1000 | Airbus A330-300 comparison |
|
Passenger capacity (persons) | 270 (3 classes), 312 (2 classes) | 314 (3 classes), 366 (2 classes) | 350 (3 classes), 412 (2 classes) | ||
Crew (persons) | |||||
Length (meter) | 60,54 | 66,89 | 73,88 | 63,69 |
|
Practical ceiling (meter) | 13100 | 13100 | 13100 | ||
Maximum fuel quantity (liter) | 138000 | 138000 | 156000 | ||
Wing area (sq.m.) | |||||
Wingspan (meter) | 64,75 | 64,75 | 64,75 | 60,3 |
|
Engine thrust (kN) | |||||
Engines | Rolls-Royce Trent XWB | Rolls-Royce Trent XWB | Rolls-Royce Trent XWB | 2 engines General Electric CF6-80E1A2, Pratt & Whitney PW-4164, or PW-4168, RollsRoyce Trent 768 or Trent 772 |
|
Flight range (km) | 15700 | 15000 | 14800 | 10800 |
|
Maximum speed | 945 km/h, at an altitude of 12,190 m | 945 km/h, at an altitude of 12,190 m | |||
Cruising speed (km/h) | 903 km/h, at an altitude of 12,190 m | 903 km/h, at an altitude of 12,190 m | 870 km/h |
||
Wing sweep (degree) | 31,9 | 31,9 | 31,9 | ||
Cabin width (meter) | 5,61 | 5,61 | 5,61 | 5,28 |
|
Height (meter) | 17,1 | 17,1 | 17,1 | 16,83 |
|
Fuselage width (meter) | 5,96 | 5,96 | 5,96 | 5,64 |
|
Maximum take-off weight (ton) |
Accidents and disasters Airbus A350 ( AirbusA350)
Let's hope that there will be no accidents or accidents involving the Airbus A350 after the start of operation.
The Airbus A350 is a new wide-body airliner for long-haul airlines developed by Airbus (EADS).
Formally, the A350 project started on December 1, 2006 with the goal of replacing the A330 and A340 aircraft. The main goal of creating an airliner is to compete with the American company Boeing. The new Airbus A350 is a direct competitor to such aircraft as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, also known as the Boeing 7E7.
Initially, the Airbus consortium wanted to use the A330 airliner as the basis for the new aircraft. It was supposed to install new engines on the A330 and rework the aerodynamics of the aircraft. This project was called “A330-200 Lite”. But then this idea was abandoned, and the design of the A350 began as the development of a new aircraft. Although the fuselage of the first version of the A350 externally resembled the A330 aircraft, it was nevertheless a completely different aircraft with new wings made of new composite materials based on carbon fiber, with new engines and new flight stabilizers. The A350 also featured a modern cabin layout and finish that could accommodate up to nine seats in one row. New project The aircraft was named A350 XWB (Extra Wide Body).
On August 31, 2010, the first stage of aircraft construction beganeta. During its construction, new composite materials were widely used. They make up 52 percent of the aircraft's total weight. Airbus expects the aircraft to be 10-15 percent cheaper to operate than its direct competitor, the Boeing 787. In early 2013, ground tests of the first Airbus A350 were carried out. The first flight of the new A350 took place on July 14, 2013. It was an Airbus A350-900 model.
The new aircraft is equipped with two Trent XWB turbojet engines with a thrust of 374.5 kN each from Rolls & Royce. Negotiations are also underway with General Electric about the use of GEnx (General Electric Next-generation) engines. According to Airbus, the A350 with the new engines should improve fuel efficiency by 25 percent compared to the A330.
The airliner will be offered to air carriers in three modifications.
The first shortened version, 60.54 meters long, designated A350-800. It is designed to carry 245 passengers in three classes over a distance of 15,900 kilometers. The estimated commissioning time for this modification is at the end of 2014 or at the beginning of 2015.
The second version, also known as the basic one, is A350-900. This version will fly a distance of 15,000 kilometers. And it can accommodate 314 passenger seats in a three-class configuration or 366 seats in a two-class configuration. The length of the aircraft is 66.89 meters. This version will be put into operation in the second half of 2014.
The third modification of the aircraft, the A350-1000, is the largest aircraft of the entire Airbus A350 family. Its length is 73.88 meters. It will begin arriving in airlines in mid-2015. This version is capable of carrying up to 412 passengers in two classes or 350 passengers in a three-class configuration. The flight range of this model will be 14,900 kilometers.
To date, the Airbus consortium, from its clients, has already received about 580 orders for the supply of A350 of various modifications.
Technical characteristics of the basic version of the Airbus A350-900 aircraft
- First flight: July 14, 2013
- Commissioning: second half of 2014.
- Length: 66.89 m.
- Height: 17.1 m.
- Empty weight: 115700 kg.
- Fuselage width: 5.96 m.
- Wing area: 440 sq. m.
- Wingspan: 64.75 m.
- Cruising speed: 905 km/h.
- Maximum speed: 950 km/h.
- Ceiling: 13000 m.
- Flight range: 15,000 km.
- Engines: 2 Rolls & Royce Trent XWB or General Electric GEnx turbofans with a thrust of 374.5 kN
- Crew: 2 people
- Number of passenger seats: from 270 to 366 seats
Airbus A350-900. Gallery.
Airbus A350 video
One of the latest models of modern airliners is the Airbus A350. It is the embodiment of the most advanced ideas of engineering. But, of course, this airliner, despite its obvious advantages over its competitors, also has its disadvantages. Let's talk about the history of the development of the Airbus A350 aircraft, describe its main technical characteristics, and also find out reviews from the first passengers and experts.
Airbus line of aircraft
But first, let's talk about the Airbus line of passenger civil air transport aircraft, since the final model of this group of airliners is the Airbus A350.
The French company Airbus was founded in 1970 by combining several aircraft manufacturers. Since its inception, it has become one of the largest players in the market. Engaged in the production of both civilian and military equipment.
From the moment of its creation, Airbus entered into a fierce struggle with the American company Boeing, which was dominant at that time in the civil aviation market. And, it must be said, this rivalry was not unsuccessful. Already released by a European concern in 1972 (A300), it became very popular among airlines. The new airliner was the world's first twin-engine wide-body aircraft, that is, having two aisles between passenger seats. In 1974, it was accepted into service by the largest French air carrier. Air France and is still used today.
This was followed by the release of the following airliner models: A310, A320 family, A330, A340, A380. Moreover, the A320 line, along with the Boeing-737 family, is on this moment is the most popular in the world.
The last one was released in 2013. About it will be discussed further.
Background of creation
The creation of a new aircraft by Airbus was planned as a response to the release by Boeing Corporation of the 777 airliner (1994) and the announcement of the Boeing 787 project (beginning of development in 2004). The latter was positioned as the most economical aircraft in the world in its class.
In response, Airbus planned to release an improved and more fuel-efficient version, calling it the A330-200 Lite. It was economy that was put at the forefront when developing this model, which began to be discussed in the same 2004, when the Boeing 787 project was announced.
But, as it turned out during the design process, fundamental changes were required to achieve the goal. Therefore, in 2006, the launch of a new project was announced, called the Airbus A350 XWB. The last letters stood for Extra Wide Body, which translated into Russian means “extra-wide fuselage.” It was immediately stated that the new aircraft would be more fuel efficient than the Boeing 787, and its maintenance costs would be 8% lower.
Process of creation
So, it was 2006 that became Starting point in the process of creating a long-range wide-body passenger aircraft with two Airbus A350 engines.
Actually, the development did not take as much time as it usually takes to create an aircraft of this class. It lasted six years. This is explained by the fact that during the work process a minimum of structural changes to the original plan were introduced, as well as by the company’s desire to finally release a worthy competitor to the Boeing 787, which began to ply the airspace in 2009.
At the end of 2012, the aircraft under serial number MSN1 was transported from the assembly shop. In mid-2013, it made its first test flight, and from the beginning of 2015, regular passenger transportation with the A350 airliner began.
Modifications
It should be noted that this model had three modifications at once: A350 - 800, A350 - 900 and A350 - 1000.
The Airbus A350 - 800 began operation in 2014. Its cabin is designed to carry 270 passengers, and its flight range is 15,700 km. with a short fuselage.
The Airbus A350 - 900 entered service the same year. Its capacity was 314 passengers, but the distance it could fly was slightly less - 15,000 km. This modification is considered basic.
The Airbus A350 - 1000 made its first scheduled flight only in 2015. Its capacity is 350 passengers, and its flight range is 14,800 km. This model has an extended fuselage (compared to the base one).
All of these modifications require two pilots to operate.
Specifications
Now let's learn more about the design and technical specifications Airbus A350 aircraft.
The base model has a length of 66.8 m, and modifications are 60.5 m and 73.8 m, respectively. The wingspan is 64 m. The height of all modifications of the aircraft is 16.9 m, and the working area of the wing is 443 m 2.
The main design feature of the new Airbus is that it consists of more than 50% composite materials, which exceeds that of the Boeing 787. Also in the A350, saber-shaped wingtips were used, which were never used on other models of the Airbus corporation.
All modifications of the airliners are equipped with two Trent XWB engines, which are capable of providing a maximum speed of 945 km/h. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with a Honeywell HGT1700 auxiliary engine.
Passenger compartment and cabin
Each of the airliner modifications has a cabin with three levels of comfort: first class, business and economy. Naturally, in each of them there are significant differences in the level of service and comfort. Passengers, depending on their financial situation and needs, can choose any of the three classes offered in the Airbus A350. The layout of the aircraft cabin is shown in the image below.
Not a single aircraft in the world is complete without a cockpit. This is the point from which the flight of the airliner is controlled. The cabin of the Airbus A350 is equipped with the latest electronic devices, created with the latest technology, which allow you to drive the car either manually or using an autopilot.