Airbus rolls out second A350 XWB fuselage demonstrator

Airbus has presented a second test fuselage section for the A350 XWB yesterday. With a length of 18 metres and a diametre of more than six metres, the demonstrator "closely reflects the A350 XWB fuselage's final design," said the airframer. The composite section was used to develop and validate the process chain - from the manufacture of individual panels, frames and clips, to shell assembly, section assembly and the production of circumferential joints. It will also be utilised for the aircraft's certification process, primarily for fatigue and damage tolerance tests. The fuselage demonstrator was developed with the involvement of 11 Airbus plants in Germany, France and Spain. While this unit was built in three sections, the actual A350 XWB will feature continuous fuselage composite panels of 16-18 metres in length.