Airbus flight tests A350 composite panel

Airbus has begun flight testing a 15sq m carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) fuselage panel to evaluate its acoustic properties and help fine tune sound insulation for the A350 XWB. The composite panel, which has been fitted with microphone sensors, has been added in place of an aluminium fuselage section of an A340 and will be tested over three weeks with various types of acoustic insulation materials.

Airbus has also recently started construction of upper and lower wing shells for the A350 in Spain and Germany, while the first metal cut for the aircraft’s centre wing box started in March at Nantes.