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| Airbus starts production of the first A330neo. Worker at Airbus’ Pylon Manufacturing Plant in Saint Eloi . Photo: Airbus. |
[Avionics Today 09-08-2015] Airbus’ first A330neo is coming to term one year after the program was launched, with the first “cutting of metal” underway at its production facilities in Toulouse and Nantes, France. Machining of the first engine pylon started during the summer at Airbus’ facility in Saint-Eloi, while Airbus’ plant in Nantes began production of the first A330neo center wing box.
The first A330neo Centre Wing Box rib 1 produced in Nantes uses an Isogrid design with 330 triangular pockets, which enables the part to meet all rigidity, strength and low weight requirements. Made out of lightweight titanium, the A330neo pylon uses aerodynamics, materials and design technologies derived from the A350 XWB.
The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus widebody family with first deliveries scheduled to start in Q4 2017.