Airbus begins production of A350F frame

Airbus has reached a milestone in assembling the prototype A350F with the arrival of the first machined parts for the airframe, fuselage shell and structural support for the forward cargo door. During the summer, Airbus began production of the A350F fuselage shell and structural supports for the cargo door at its manufacturing plants in Stade and Bremen, Germany, respectively, according to a company release. [caption id="attachment_56865776" align="alignright" width="450"] The first A350F will enter into service in 2026. (Photo/Airbus)[/caption] The lower fuselage design completed at Airbus’ Stade facility is similar to the A350 passenger plane. Meanwhile, the upper fuselage shell, also made in Stade, will contain most of the large cargo door frame and include additional carbon fiber-reinforced plastic bonding jigs, along with freighter intercostal components which join the frame, skin and system components. The first metal cut of the aircraft’s machined parts was completed by Premium Aerotec, which will produce some of the A350F’s major components, including the surrounding areas of the smaller forward doors and the large main cargo door . Premium Aerotec, located in Varel, Germany, will coordinate with Airbus Aerostructures and Airbus Operations to develop the forward and aft sections of the A350F fuselage, according to Airbus. With component production underway, Airbus expects to begin final assembly of the prototype aircraft in 2024 . The components and fuselage sub-assemblies will be delivered to Airbus’ assembly plant in Nordenham, Germany, where the main-deck cargo floor will be completed. Production of the fuselage rear side shells will come from the Airbus’ plant in Augsburg, Germany, while the rear upper and lower shells will be manufactured in Stade. Airbus pushed back the A350F’s inaugural flight after securing four unidentified orders for the large-widebody freighter in March. The manufacturer now has more A350Fs on order than the number of A330-200Fs it delivered. There is just a week to go until Cargo Facts Symposium, taking place Oct. 25-27 at the Omni San Diego. Learn more about the essential event for stakeholders in the freighter and air cargo industry, and register today .

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