(Jan 27, 2022)
On Wednesday, the Airbus C295 Flight Test Bed 2 (FTB2) performed its maiden flight from the Seville final assembly line.
The plane is now beginning a flight campaign with the aim of testing the new semi-morphing wing, the new flight control system, as well as a SatCom antenna embedded in the plane’s fuselage.
“The first flight of the C295 FTB2 is a key milestone that represents an important milestone in the program, following the successful integration of new aerodynamic structures, ground and power tests,” said Francisco Javier Sánchez Segura, Executive Vice President Engineering. Airbus Defense and Space. “A few years ago, this program was just a dream of a more sustainable future for aviation. Today we are at the final stage and we finally got it flying.
Based on the Airbus C295, the Flight Test Bed 2 is an in-flight demonstrator of the European Clean Sky 2 (CS2) program and the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, where technologies related to the future CS2 multi-mission regional aircraft are tested.
Airbus C295 Flight Test Bench 2 (FTB2)
Modifications include new materials and technologies designed to reduce noise, CO2 and NOx emissions.
With new technologies applied in a future regional multi-mission configuration, up to 43% CO2 and 70% NOx reductions can be achieved in a typical 400 nautical mile search and rescue mission, as well as 45% noise reductions in less on takeoff.
The major changes to the aircraft are a new high-efficiency semi-morphing wing, new dynamic winglets and a flat-panel SATCOM antenna integrated into the top of the fuselage.
Additionally, innovative flight controls for the primary control surfaces including ailerons, flaps and flap tabs with improved aerodynamics are able to adjust in flight and contribute to a more efficient high lift system. .
The new flight control system relies on digital control systems to optimize the aerodynamic shape of the wing in flight, while a new multifunctional flap has been completely redesigned and includes flap tabs in the trailing edge controlled by electromechanical actuators.
The benefits also extend to the manufacturing process, including the use of advanced materials and manufacturing ranging from the use of Scalmalloy and additive manufacturing to a new method of assembling the wing’s aerodynamic structures.
A unique assembly approach was used for the new composite winglet and winglet tab, moving from the conventional rib approach to a multi-spar integrated torsion box. Finally, jigless methods were used for the assembly of flaps and ailerons.
As a result, the C295 FTB2 brings improvements not only to the purely operational aspects of the aircraft, but helps to introduce further improvements in the design and manufacturing process.
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