A320 Neo question

[parkcentral]

Of the major changes to the A320 in NEO config, what's the reason behind strengthening the outer wing box?
Is the current outer wing box susceptible to metal fatigue or is it just to push the MTOW and wing loading figures up?

[llagonne66]

Stenghtening is linked to the sharklets that will increase the wing bending movement.

[keesje]

llagonne66

sound logical, but can only mean the aircraft gets heavier, if weight = lift, regardless of how the wing looks. So probably it has more to do with the higher weight of the engines/engine pylons.

wait, aren't the engines "unloading" the wings ?

I'll have a cup of coffee over that.. maybe they want to do a A322 too?

[FlyingTinCans]

The neo wings are being strengthened to accommodate the extra weight of the sharklets and the GTF engines which are heavier and larger than the current models on the 320 family