User:W2wi/Future-wing project and A322/1

Future-wing project and A322 by 92.116
In 2015, Airbus started its "Wing of the future" programme, also called the Future-wing project or "Wing of Tomorrow" programme. The advantageous composite wing is first seen as an upgrade to the existing, mostly metal A320 family wing, which was already upgraded many times. Airbus has already composite wings on the A350 and A220, but this will be an enhanced, new design with highly automated manufacturing suitable for inexpensive high-volume production. The design and multiple simultaneous tests take place in a dedicated €44.8 million facility in Filton, headed by Sue Partridge and executed by 300 engineers in this building. Other Airbus locations in the UK, France, Spain and Germany are working with 30 partners on this wing project.

In May 2021, Partridge announced that for improved aerodynamic performance the wing will be longer and thinner with folding wingtips to access existing airport gates. By may 2021, assembly of the first demonstrator was to start in the coming weeks, as the project should be completed by 2023 before an eventual product launch. A “radical” A320 makeover is expected to cost over 4 billion euros ($4.9 billion), way less than the calculations giving $15 billion to $20 billion for an all-new design for Boeing.

Due to the increased length and increased lift, the new wings could also be used on an Airbus A322, an A321 lengthened by 4 passenger seat-rows, being studied by Airbus.