Airbus Building A350 Fuselage Assembly Facility
Airbus has is progressing with construction of its new 160,000-square-foot A350 XWB fuselage-assembly hangar at its German factory in Hamburg.

Airbus has is progressing with construction of its new 160,000-square-foot A350 XWB fuselage-assembly hangar at its German factory in Hamburg.

From the second quarter of 2011, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic aft-fuselage sections up to 55 feet long will be assembled there and equipped with flight-relevant systems. Complete forward-fuselage sections will be delivered to the plant for systems installation and final assembly of the 19.55-foot diameter structure, “the [world’s] largest composites fuselage,” according to the European manufacturer.

Germany’s aerospace industry has a significant share in the development and production of the A350 XWB.  More than 30 German aerospace design and production companies are involved in the program, giving the country a significant share in the project. The entire fuselage and cabin are developed at Airbus Hamburg, while the Stade plant makes the vertical tailfin and large wing components. Airbus Bremen is developing the high-lift systems and will equip the wings with “flight-relevant” systems, with Airbus site in Buxtehude responsible for cabin-management systems.