Airbus to Test 5-Metre Folding Wings on A321neo as It Targets 2030 Jet Design
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21
Airbus to Test 5-Metre Folding Wings on A321neo as It Targets 2030 Jet Design
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21
Summary
Airbus will fit about 4-5 metre wing extensions to an A321neo and begin real-world tests in the second half of 2027, marking a push to bring folding wingtips to single-aisle jets.
Longer, thinner composite wings could cut energy use, but they would exceed airport gate limits without a folding mechanism — a constraint Airbus says makes the technology highly valuable.
Broughton, north Wales, is about to start assembling the extension, though the first test phase covers only the bolts that secure it, not the hinges needed for folding.
By 2030, Airbus plans to settle the shape of its next aircraft, with gull-shaped wings, larger-diameter engines and a choice between conventional covered engines and open-fan designs under review.
Rolls-Royce said it has just 2 years to win a place on the next narrowbody generation, pressing the UK government to back its UltraFan program as Airbus and Boeing prepare successor jets to the A320 and 737.