Spirit AeroSystems to Develop and Manufacture CityAirbus NextGen’s Wings

(14 Mar 2022, 12:03 +07)  Airbus has signed an agreement with Spirit AeroSystems for the development of CityAirbus NextGen’s wings.

Spirit AeroSystems will be responsible for developing and manufacturing CityAirbus NextGen’s wings in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Both partners’ ambition is to achieve a minimum weight solution while ensuring the highest levels of safety. The structural concept of the eVTOL’s fixed wings will be able to transmit the related aerodynamic loads while being optimized for the right balance between hover and cruise efficiency. CityAirbus NextGen’s distributed propulsion system will contribute to reducing the influence of air turbulence.

Spirit AeroSystems will develop and manufacture CityAirbus NextGen’s wings in Belfast, Northern Ireland

“The partnership with Spirit AeroSystems is an important step for the development of CityAirbus NextGen and its wings are key structural components for flight efficiency,” said Jörg Müller, Head of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) at Airbus. “To build this vehicle, we are proud to work with Spirit as a strategic partner who benefits from a proven track record in this field, and extensive experience in component quality and airworthiness.”

With a significant UK footprint, particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world’s largest suppliers of aerostructures, and builds on years of manufacturing expertise in major aircraft components and architecture solutions.

Its longstanding relationship with Airbus includes the provision of fully integrated wings and wing elements for multiple Airbus commercial aircraft.

The fully electric CityAirbus NextGen is an eVTOL prototype equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its distributed propulsion system.

CityAirbus NextGen is being developed to fly with an 80km operational range and to reach a cruise speed of 120 km/h.