Le Bourget, France - When the Airbus A350 XWB flew today during the Paris Air Show, this next-generation jetliner was equipped with wing components composed of more than 3,000 deliverable parts supplied by GE Aviation's Hamble, U.K. aerostructures production facility.
The A350 XWB's wing fixed trailing edge package is the largest production contract in GE Aviation, Hamble's 75-year-plus history, and demonstrates its capability to design and manufacture advanced structural composite panels and complex machined assemblies for the aviation industry.
"We congratulate Airbus on the success of the maiden flight with the world's newest jetliner, and look forward to a long relationship on the program - for which GE Aviation will supply the wing fixed trailing edge," explained Steve Walters, general manager of GE Aviation's mechanical systems business.
For its design and manufacture of the A350 XWB wing components, GE Aviation, Hamble significantly increased the scope of its technical capabilities in developing new tool sets, materials and technologies. Additionally, it brought together a global design team that included GE Aviation Engineering resources in Poland and India, while applying concurrent engineering with global suppliers to obtain material and long-lead items in unprecedented timescales.
In addition to major investments already implemented at the company's Hamble factory for A350 XWB production, GE Aviation will further enhance the operation by creating a new composites facility dedicated to this Airbus program at the site in Southampton, Hampshire.
The A350 XWB is the latest Airbus jetliner for which GE Aviation, Hamble supplies aerostructure components. GE Aviation's other current production activities for Airbus aircraft involve components on the A380, A400M and A320 programs.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, aerostructures, nacelles and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.