The Airbus C295 Flight Test Bed 2 (FTB2) has successfully performed its maiden flight from the final assembly line in Seville.
The aircraft now starts a flight campaign to test the new semi-morphing wing, the new affordable flight control system, and a SatCom antenna embedded within the aircraft’s fuselage.
Francisco Javier Sánchez Segura, Executive Vice President, Engineering, Airbus Defence and Space, said, “The first flight of the C295 FTB2 is a key milestone that represents an important step forward in the programme, following the successful integration of the new aerostructures, power-on and ground tests. A few years ago this programme was just a dream of a more sustainable future for aviation. Today we are at the final stage, and we finally made it fly.”
Based on the Airbus C295, the Flight Test Bed 2 is an in-flight demonstrator of the European Clean Sky 2 (CS2) and the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, where technologies related to CS2’s future regional multimission aircraft are tested.
The modifications include new materials and technologies designed to reduce noise, CO2, and NOx emissions. With these technologies applied in a future regional multimission configuration, up to 43% CO2 and 70% NOx can be reduced in a typical Search and Rescue mission of 400 nautical miles and 45% less noise during take-off.
The main modifications in the aircraft are a new high-efficiency semi-morphing wing, new dynamic winglets and a flat panel SATCOM antenna integrated within the top of the fuselage. In addition, innovative flight controls for primary control surfaces, including ailerons, flaps and flap tabs with improved aerodynamics, can adjust in-flight and contribute to a more efficient high lift system.
The new flight control system leverages digital control systems to optimise the aerodynamic shape of the wing in flight. In contrast, a new multifunctional flap has been completely redesigned and includes flap tabs in the trailing edge controlled by electromechanical actuators.
But the advantages also extend into the manufacturing process, not least with the use of advanced materials and manufacturing ranging from Scalmalloy and additive manufacturing to a new assembly method for the aerostructures of the wing. A one-shot assembly approach has been used for the new composite winglet and winglet tab, moving from the conventional ribs approach to a multi-spar integrated torsion box. Finally, jig-less methods have been used to assemble flaps and ailerons.
As a result, the C295 FTB2 brings improvements to the purely operational aspects of the aircraft and helps introduce new improvements to the design and manufacturing process.