Airbus has started production of first fuselage barrel for the A350 XWB. The first carbon fibre placement process used for producing the fuselage barrel, known as section 19, will be completed in the next few weeks.
The fuselage is being constructed at the Airbus production plant in Illescas, Spain. The majority of the A350 XWB fuselage is made from long carbon fibre panels which are easier to manufacture and to assemble than barrel sections. However for the rear part of the fuselage which is tapered, Airbus has selected a barrel as being the optimum structure.
Designed and manufactured with the right material and the right technology at the right place, the A350 XWB will shape the efficiency of medium-to-long haul airline operations from 2013 onwards.