Airbus Tests “Wing of Tomorrow” for Next-Gen Single-Aisle Jet

Airbus is getting ready to test longer wings on its planes as it works to create more fuel-efficient technology for its next-generation single-aisle passenger jets.

Over the next three years, Airbus will add several-metre-long wing extensions to an A321neo test plane to see how a larger wingspan performs during real flights, the company revealed during the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK.

Longer, slimmer wings reduce aerodynamic drag, which helps cut fuel use and emissions. But they also bring engineering challenges, like changes to how the plane handles and how it operates at airports.

These tests will help Airbus weigh the pros and cons before deciding on the final design for future planes.

The wing extensions are designed to act like fully extended folding wings and will have sensors to track their performance during each flight. The test plane will fly from Toulouse, and the extensions will be made at Airbus’ Wing Technology Development Centre in the UK.

This flight campaign is part of Wing of Tomorrow, which is one of Airbus’ biggest research projects. The company has already built and tested full-size wing models on the ground. Now, they will see how the technology works in real flights.

This research could shape the design of Airbus’ next generation of narrow-body planes, which are likely to replace the A320 family later this decade or in the 2030s.

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