Engineering news
European planemaker Airbus has kicked off what is expected to be a busy week at the Farnborough airshow with the launch of a re-engined A330 jet that will compete in the 250-seat segment against the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The A330neo widebody airliner will incorporate Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, along with aerodynamic enhancements such as composite winglets.
These features will reduce fuel consumption by 14% per seat compared with similar-sized existing aircraft, making the A330neo the most cost efficient, medium range aircraft on the market, said Airbus.
Tom Enders, chief executive at Airbus, said: “With our decision to re-engine the plane, we will keep the A330 flying high for many more years to come."
Development costs for the A330neo, expected to be in the region of 1-2 billion euros, will be incurred from 2015 to 2017, with the first aircraft delivered at the end of 2017.
Airbus said that it expected to sell a total of 1,000 A330neo aircraft.
The Trent 7000 engine will have a larger 112 inch diameter fan, for a 10:1 bypass ratio. A new composite winglet will increase wing span extension from 60.3 metres to 64 metres. Together, these design changes will bring increased lit and reduced drag, enabling greater fuel efficiency, said Airbus.
However, Airbus said that much consideration had been given to structural commonality, with the A330neo having the same centre wing box as the existing A330. "The wing box stays the same. We have checked the unit loads very carefully," said Fabrice Bregier, chief executive of Airbus' passenger jet business.
The A330neo will have 95% commonality with the existing A330, he added.
Cockpit systems will be further optimised to offer up to ten additional 18 inch wide seats. Passengers will benefit from fourth generation In Flight Entertainment (3D films), mood-lighting and full connectivity, said Airbus.