Airbus’s Semi-Morphing Wing Completes First Flight In Spain
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European planemaker Airbus said today that its C295 technology demonstrator had successfully performed its maiden flight from the final assembly line in Seville, Spain. The aircraft, Airbus C295 Flight Test Bed 2 (FTB2), will now commence a series of flights testing its new semi-morphing wing. Furthermore, it will evaluate a new flight-control system and a SatCom antenna embedded within the aircraft’s fuselage.
The main modifications to the C295 in-flight demonstrator include a new high-efficiency semi-morphing wing. In addition, the planemaker says, an innovative flight control system for primary control surfaces is capable of adjusting these in-flight. This leverages digital control systems to optimize the aerodynamic shape of the wing in flight.
Airbus has also redesigned a new, multifunctional flap to include flap tabs in the trailing edge controlled by electromechanical actuators. The testbed aircraft also has new, dynamic winglets.