Aviation
Commercial /
Europe
Advances in the A321XLR
Airbus unveils new wing box, central element of the new jet's structure
Airbus A321XLR
Image: Airbus
Rafael Ramos
4/13/2021
The A321XLR is the variant design of the A321 that combines features of the A320neo with features of the Xtra Long Range (Extra Long Range). One of the first components of the plane is the CWB (Central Wing Box). Today, April 12, the Airbus team in Nantes, France, delivered this piece 16 months after the first metal cuts.
This is an important milestone, since the CWB is part of the beginning of the structural assembly activities of the fuselage. In the A320 family, it is known as Section 15. The CWB represents the start of an execution and planning challenge.
CWB do A321XLR
Airbus
Divulgação/Airbus
“The CWB is always the first major component in each new aircraft development to be produced, so we must mature its design very early and manage its interdependencies with fuel systems, load calculations, as well as physical interfaces for the components of the aerodynamic structure. developed in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, ”explains Yannick Valette, Leader of the A321XLR Program's Front and Nose Integrated Product Team (IPT NFF), and Richard Hue, CWB Project Leader.
As this is an aircraft that has a higher take-off weight capacity (MTOW), the CWB needs to have reinforced parts, such as side spars, frames and upper and lower panels, as well as a fuel system, which needs to supply fuel for the new rear central tank. (RCT) Rear Center Tank. Thus, the capacity to load fuel is increased by about 12900 liters, bringing the total capacity to 40,000 liters.
Commissioning of the A321XLR is scheduled for 2023.
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Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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