Airbus NSR

Airbus A30X is the project name for the development of the successor model of the Airbus A320 family. Further project names are or were Next Generation Single Aisle ( NGSA ) and Airbus NSR (New Short Range ). For the production aircraft is then to be expected with a common name for the Airbus schema. The most famous was the transfer of a project name in the series designation for the project in A380 Airbus A3XX.

Development period

After the first official data from the year 2003, the A30X was planned as A300- 600R - successor and should be indienstgestellt in 2014 to 2015. In later official statements, the A30X is referred to as A320 successor. In 2008, the launch of the A30X for 2014 and entry into service in the year was 2018Vorlage: / given future known in 4 years. The commissioning was by John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus, successively to 2024 and most recently on 2030Vorlage: Moved future / in 5 years.

The reasons for the shift are to a technological reasons, as for the A30X new technologies are studied, which is expected by mid of 2020erVorlage: be future not yet available / in 5 years of age, such as the new engine technology open rotor / prop. On the other hand gave Airbus in December 2010, a facelift of the models A319, A320 and A321 neo in the new version ( New Engine Option ) are known which also gets a new, modern turbofan engines next Sharklets and to be delivered from 2015. Due to the decision to develop this improved version of the A320 family, Airbus has won time for the development of a completely new A320 successor, without running the risk that market shares are delivered to the competition from an outdated A320 family.

Technology

At the present time no firm decisions regarding new technologies are still known. An important aspect will be the study of new engine technology. The substance may have an open rotor or an "Advanced " turbofan with very large bypass ratio. Airbus expects about 30-40 % fuel saving compared to today's A320 using an open rotor and other (not exactly specified ) of new technologies on the aircraft.

In addition, the following technologies for the A30X are under consideration:

  • Fuel cells: APU replacements, fresh water and inert gas
  • "Smart Wing": laminar flow with reduced aerodynamic drag
  • Improved cockpit
  • Evolved Materials

Fuel cell system

Along with Parker Aerospace Airbus examines the use of a fuel cell system as an APU replacement. A flight test with this system is to take place in 2015.

Besides the pure APU spare the fuel cell system can take on additional tasks, such as the provision of fresh water ( as the end product of the chemical process of the fuel cell ), or the prevention of fires by providing a shielding gas tank (tank inerting ).

Laminar flow

In the European research project CleanSky Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft Airbus and other project partners to develop a laminar flow wing. The results of this project could, according to Jens Koenig, coordinator of Airbus in CleanSky project, find for the wings of the A30X application. There is a wing drag reduction of 25% in cruise flight can be achieved, which would lead to an overall drag reduction of 5-6 % and a reduction in fuel consumption by 6%.

The technology will be tested on an A340 test aircraft in 2014. But the wings are to be replaced on both sides outside of the engines. Left and right wing get the same geometry, but will be structured differently for the investigation of structural and manufacturing concepts. Within the project solutions for good surface qualities and accurate surface tolerances, low ripple the surface and the prevention of pollution are examined. These properties are important for the maintenance of laminar flow.

Final assembly

While the A320 will undergo final assembly in different locations, to be held in Hamburg for future follow-up series, the entire final assembly.

Inertgas Parker-Hannifin Handelsblatt Reuters
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