Airbus is launching a new flight-test campaign in which it will use an A321neo to evaluate higher-span wings intended for the next generation of single-aisle passenger aircraft. The campaign marks the next phase of Wing of Tomorrow, one of the European manufacturer’s largest research and technology programmes.

Over the next three years, Airbus will design, manufacture and test several full-scale wingtip extension configurations under real flight conditions. The extensions, each several metres long, will be installed on the wingtips of an A321neo to assess how different geometric solutions perform in flight.

The test components will represent folding wingtips in the fully extended position. Although they will not fold during the campaign, they will allow Airbus engineers to collect data on aerodynamic performance, structural loads and the effect of the increased wingspan on aircraft handling.

The extensions will be equipped with a large number of sensors and measuring instruments to monitor their behaviour during different phases of flight. Particular attention will be paid to changes in aircraft stability and handling, as well as to the potential reduction in aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.

“For more than 50 years, Airbus has spearheaded aviation innovation, continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible to deliver more efficient aircraft for future generations. This is why the Wing of Tomorrow programme is such an exciting and rewarding journey to be on,” said Sue Partridge, Head of Airbus’ Wing of Tomorrow programme.

“Importantly, the wing is one of the biggest levers we have to improve flight efficiency, which is why the Wing of Tomorrow is so critical for our next-generation single-aisle aircraft. This flight-test campaign will allow us to safely challenge traditional design limits and explore the benefits of longer wings,” she added.

Airbus is currently using advanced digital modelling and wind-tunnel testing to finalise the design of the extensions. Data collected during the flights should validate the computer models and reduce technical risks before any of the solutions are potentially applied to a future production aircraft.

The Wing of Tomorrow programme is focused on developing longer, lighter and more slender wings designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. Such wings generate less induced drag, particularly during cruise, but their greater span also creates additional challenges related to structural strength, weight and compatibility with existing airport infrastructure.

Folding wingtips could provide a way to combine a greater wingspan in flight with dimensions compatible with existing stands, taxiways and airport gates. A similar solution is already used on the Boeing 777X, whose wingtips fold after landing so the aircraft can use infrastructure designed for aircraft with a smaller wingspan.

The Airbus extensions will be assembled at the Wing Technology Development Centre in the United Kingdom, while flight testing will be conducted from Toulouse. As part of the programme, the manufacturer has already built three 17-metre ground-based wing demonstrators to study the advantages of increased wingspan and more than 100 new manufacturing and assembly technologies.

Wing of Tomorrow is not limited to the aerodynamic shape of the wing. Through the programme, Airbus is also developing new materials, structural solutions and industrial processes that could make wing production faster and less expensive. This will be particularly important if the next generation of single-aisle aircraft is to be produced at rates higher than those of today’s A320neo Family.

The programme has been underway since 2014 and has so far received £227 million in funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute programme. The initiative is a partnership between the ATI, the UK Department for Business and Trade and Innovate UK, aimed at maintaining the United Kingdom’s leading role in the development of aerospace technologies.

At the same time, Airbus subsidiary UpNext is developing the eXtra Performance WING demonstrator, featuring a wing capable of changing shape in flight and adapting to different speeds, altitudes and phases of flight. Assembly of the remotely piloted demonstrator is nearing completion in Cazaux, southern France, with its maiden flight planned by the end of 2026.

Wing of Tomorrow and eXtra Performance WING are developing different but closely related technologies. The first programme focuses on wing structure, production and increased span, while the second explores active changes to wing shape during flight. The results of both projects are expected to help Airbus define the wing architecture for the successor to the A320neo Family.

Airbus has not yet announced when its next generation of single-aisle aircraft could enter service. However, the launch of a multi-year flight-test campaign using an A321neo shows that the manufacturer is gradually moving beyond laboratory and ground-based research towards validating the technologies in a real flight environment.