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Wings Of The Future: What Airbus' A321neo Test Program Reveals About The Next Narrowbody
['Paul Hartley', 'Antonio Di Trapani']
Simple Flying
Over the next three years, Airbus will design, build, and flight-test full-scale wing extensions, each several meters long, fitted to an A321neo.
The eXtra Performance Wing: Airbus' Other Wild CardCredit: AirbusRunning in parallel, and easy to miss next to the A321neo headline, is a second and arguably more radical experiment.
Airbus has targeted a first flight by the end of 2026, months before the A321neo wing-extension flight campaign is expected to begin.
What To Watch NextCredit: AirbusTwo Airbus wing technology programs will shape the next phase of narrowbody development.
The company will then begin flight-testing full-scale high-span wing extensions on an A321neo test aircraft, collecting real-world data on aerodynamic performance, structural behavior, and handling characteristics.