The A350 XWB is readied for static testing

Airbus’ A350 XWB static test airframe has moved into the facility where it will undergo testing to validate the structural design of this next-generation jetliner.

The airframe rolled out of the A350 XWB final assembly line at Toulouse, Blagnac Airport earlier this week and was transferred to the L34 static test hall situated across the airport in the Lagardère industrial zone – home to the A380 final assembly line.

This clears the way for the A350 XWB airframe to be integrated into a test rig for a campaign that will submit it to nearly a year of evaluations, including limit load and ultimate load validations, along with residual strength and margin research.

The L34 static test hall covers an area of 10,000 square meters, and is supported by 200 workers during peak testing activity. It houses a rig that incorporates 2,500 tons of steel and 240 jacks/loading lines, which are used to induce structural loads. The testing is recorded by some 12,000 sensors.

The static test airframe was the first to be built on the A350 XWB’s new Roger Béteille final assembly line in Toulouse, and was the “star” during Airbus’ inauguration ceremony for this production facility in October. The airframe is sized to represent the A350-900 version of Airbus’ newest jetliner family, which is the intermediate aircraft of the three fuselage-length versions: the A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000.

Russian Air Force receives second batch of Yak-130 trainer jets

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La china CACC ya ha vendido 380 aviones C919

La china CACC ya ha vendido 380 aviones C919:
Zhuhai.- Durante el Airshow China 2012 celebrado en Zhuhai, provincia de Guangdong durante el fin de semana, se vendieron otros 50 aviones jumbo C919 de la Corporación de Aviones Comerciales de China (CACC) con sede en Shanghai, con lo que las ventas totales de las aeronaves alcanzaron las 380 unidades, de 15 compradores. Fue toda una hazaña para un avión de pasajeros que se encuentra todavía en las etapas de diseño.

World's highest-altitude civilian airport to start operations - People's Daily Online

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/8032730.html

Passengers get off the test flight at the
Daochengyading Airport in Daocheng county
of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of
Garze, Southwest China's Sichuan Province,
November 23, 2012. The first test flight of
the airport successfully landed Friday. With
the height of 4,411 meters above sea level,
the Daochengyading Airport becomes the
highest civil airport in the world. (Xinhua/
Xue Yubin)

Pilotless aircraft: This is your ground pilot speaking | The Economist

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21567053-autonomous-civil-aircraft-could-be-flying-cars-go-driverless-your