Airbus To Copy 787 Fuselage With Composite Barrel For A350

[BOEING777X]

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=9009

Roll on the delays....I wonder how patient AY will be if this story turns outto be true..

[Thebuzu]

I think Airbus better start trying to freeze the design and build this plane, rather than updating the plane everyday!

It seems that Airbus are learning from Boeing.....

Ruben

[FlyingPhotog]

Those hypocrites! Weren't they suggesting that composites are unsafe when the 787 design was first revealed?

[DAL767-400ER]

^They did, as well as even claiming beforehand that the 787 was just a "Chinese Copy" of the A330, and now look at who is building a Chinese Copy here .

[screaming_emu]

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

Those hypocrites! Weren't they suggesting that composites are unsafe when the 787 design was first revealed?

That and they've been using a lot of composites in the past.

[TAP-A343]

Airbus does not intend to make changes to the fundamental fuselage design of its A350XWB, the company’s chief commercial officer customers John Leahy said today.

Discounting a report that Airbus is preparing to shift to an all-composite barrel, Leahy stressed that the fuselage design is frozen. “We have the A350-800, -900 and -1000,” he notes.

Airbus is issuing performance guarantees and delivery dates to customers, and taking deposits. This proves that the A350XWB “is a fully launched programme”, adds Leahy.

Official system design freeze on the A350XWB is due to be reached in October next year.

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-for-a350.html

Contradictory news.

Regards.

[DAL767-400ER]

Will be interesting to see Mr. Clarks reaction to this, seeing how he supposedly is soo in favor of the 787 fuselage instead of the A350 fuselage. Either he's serious, or he is just trying to get a bigger discount from Airbus on an A350 order (my money's on the latter).

[Paul Maier]

Has the 787 been assembled yet?
Does anyone actually believe that the first flight will still be August 07?
and first delivery in April 08?

[Thebuzu]

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

Those hypocrites! Weren't they suggesting that composites are unsafe when the 787 design was first revealed?

That is called business...

[DAL767-400ER]

Originally Posted by Paul Maier

Has the 787 been assembled yet?

It is in the process of being assembled as we speak.

Originally Posted by Paul Maier

Does anyone actually believe that the first flight will still be August 07?

I sure do.

Originally Posted by Paul Maier

and first delivery in April 08?

I give Boeing the benefit of the doubt and a one-month delay. Would not be good, but not a disaster, as Boeing will already mass-produce 787s during the trial period, so they'll have at least a dozen ready for delivery upon certification.

[Longreach747]

Originally Posted by Paul Maier

Has the 787 been assembled yet?
Does anyone actually believe that the first flight will still be August 07?
and first delivery in April 08?

yes to all 3...well 3/4 of a yes to the first!