Airbus opens WTDC site to accelerate next-gen wing development

Airbus (Toulouse, France) is investing further in its U.K. innovation capabilities, with the opening of a new Wing Technology Development Centre (WTDC) at its Filton, U.K. site. The facility, which will be used to build and test demonstrators for a range of programs and research projects, was opened by Nusrat Ghani, U.K. minister of state at the Department for Business and Trade. 

The new facility will help Airbus accelerate the design, build and testing of wings for next-generation aircraft, by using the latest technology and demonstrators to further improve the performance of its wings. Some of Airbus’ programs include three 17-meter full-scale Wing of Tomorrow (WOT) wing demonstrators:

• Static wing demonstrator — used to test structural capabilities of new designs and materials and to validate the company’s analysis.
• Run@rate demonstrator — will test industrial capability and automation technologies to assess how Airbus can build wings at the scale and speed it requires.

• Fully equipped demonstrator — used to test installation technologies and novel approaches to equipping the next generation of wings with systems. 

Other Airbus wings projects — many of which are derived from biomimetic concepts — include AlbatrossONE, BLADE, the eXtra Performance Wing and winglets.

Alongside engine optimization, making wings longer, leaner and lighter is one of the biggest opportunities to improve fuel efficiency, reduce CO₂ and ultimately work towards the aviation industry’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“The new Wing Technology Development Centre will help us to ground our research in practicality,” explains Sue Partridge, Airbus head of Filton site and the WOT program. “A key element of how we deliver technology for next-generation aircraft wings is through WOT, our largest research and technology program led by the team in the U.K. Last week, we achieved a critical milestone in the program when our second wing demonstrator was completed by the team in Broughton, Wales, and delivered to the WTDC. Here, it will be prepared for structural testing in our Aerospace Integrated Research and Technology Centre (AIRTeC).”

The WOT program enables Airbus to explore new manufacturing and assembly technologies so future generations can continue to benefit from flying. Since 2014, Airbus has been awarded £117 million by the Aerospace Technology Institute (AIT) for WOT-related research. (CW has consistently reported on this program, which can be viewed here.)

“It’s about preparing our people, technology, industrial system, supply chain, and digital and physical capabilities for next-generation aircraft,” Partridge continues. “We’re leveraging industry partners and the very best digital tools and automation to identify potential technology bottlenecks that may slow us down in the future. The foundations we lay now will help us build better and faster when the time comes.”

The WTDC adds to Airbus’ existing research and technology footprint in the U.K., including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Broughton and the ZEROe Development Centre and Aerospace Integrated Research & Test Centre (AIRTeC) at its Filton site.