Aerospaceweb.org | Aircraft Museum

Data | Image Gallery

- - - -

Airbus A350 XWB Airbus
A350 XWB
Long-Range Jetliner

DESCRIPTION:
The A350 was first announced in 2004 to compete with the Boeing 787. Airbus initially responded to Boeing's efficient airliner by merely offering an updated A330 with new engines and aerodynamic refinements to improve fuel economy. Airlines generally ignored the concept causing Airbus to develop a more elaborate A330 derivative with much the same fuselage but mated to a new composite wing and tail plus more fuel-efficient engines. This first incarnation of the A350 looked nearly identical to the A330 externally but was essentially a new design having only 10% commonality with the earlier Airbus.
Although this A350 concept won a few orders, most customers criticized it as vastly inferior to the more revolutionary 787 that was collecting orders at a record pace. This poor reception forced Airbus to scrap the concept and respond with a larger plane competing as much with the 777 as it does with the 787. This completely new design is referred to as the A350 XWB, for "eXtra Wide Body," since the fuselage is wider than the A330 and 787 allowing slightly more seat width per passenger.
Another major change between the original A350 and the XWB is a much greater use of composite materials that account for more than half of the plane's structural weight. Both the fuselage and wings are composed of lightweight composites or aluminum-lithium alloys, which coupled with advanced engines and sophisticated aerodynamic refinements, promise significant improvements in fuel efficiency compared to existing airliners. Airbus planned to finalize the design by the end of 2008 in preparation for manufacturing of the first flyable test model.
The redesigned A350 XWB has proven much more popular with the airline industry than the earlier A350 and had earned nearly 500 firm orders by July 2009. Most orders are for the A350-900 base model while the slightly smaller A350-800 is close behind. A stretched A350-1000 has also been launched, and a cargo model as well as a long-range version are under consideration. Although initial plans called for the A350 to begin flying in 2008 and enter service by 2010, the extensive XWB redesign and A380 manufacturing issues have delayed the program by about three years.
Data below is preliminary and subject to change
Last modified 02 May 2011

HISTORY:

First Flight (A350-800) ?
(A350-900) planned for 2011
(A350-1000) ?

Service Entry (A350-800) planned for 2014
(A350-900) planned for 2013
(A350-1000) planned for 2015

CREW: two flight crew: pilot, co-pilot and up to eight cabin crew

PASSENGERS: (A350-800) 270 in three classes, 312 in two classes
(A350-900) 314 in three classes, 366 in two classes
(A350-1000) 350 in three classes, 412 in two classes

COST: (A350-800) $206 to $212 million [2008$]
(A350-900) $238 to $243 million [2008$]
(A350-1000) $267 to $272 million [2008$]

DIMENSIONS:

Length (A350-800) 198.82 ft (60.60 m)
(A350-900) 219.49 ft (66.90 m)
(A350-1000) 242.45 ft (73.9 m)

Wingspan 209.97 ft (64.00 m)

Height 55.45 ft (16.90 m)

Fuselage Diameter 19.55 ft (5.96 m)

CABIN:

Length (A350-800) 149.51 ft (45.57 m)
(A350-900) 170.41 ft (51.94 m)

Width 18.40 ft (5.61 m)

Height unknown

Main Passenger Door unknown

CARGO CAPACITY:

Baggage Volume (A350-800) 399.0 ft³ (11.30 m³)
(A350-900) 399.0 ft³ (11.30 m³)
(A350-1000) 399.0 ft³ (11.30 m³)

Cargo Volume (A350-800) 4,506.0 ft³ (127.60 m³)
(A350-900) 6,085.0 ft³ (172.31 m³)
(A350-1000) 7,349.0 ft³ (208.10 m³)

Container Capacity (A350-800) 28 LD3 or 9 standard pallets
(A350-900) 36 LD3 or 11 standard pallets
(A350-1000) 44 LD3 or 14 standard pallets

Freight Doors unknown

WING:

Root Airfoil Section unknown

Tip Airfoil Section unknown

Area 4,768 ft² (443.0 m²)

Aspect Ratio 9.25

Sweepback Angle 35° at quarter chord

Control Surface Areas ailerons: unknown
flaps: unknown
leading-edge slats: unknown
spoilers: unknown

TAIL:

Tailplane Span 68.25 ft (20.80 m)

Tailplane Area 914.9 ft² (85.0 m²)

Tailfin Area 559.7 ft² (52.0 m²)

Control Surface Areas elevator: unknown
rudder: unknown

UNDERCARRIAGE:

Type Retractable tricycle with two main gear and single steerable nose gear

Main Gear (A350-800) Four wheels per unit, tire size unknown
(A350-900) Four wheels per unit, tire size unknown
(A350-1000) Six wheels per unit, tire size unknown

Nose Gear Twin wheels per unit, tire size unknown

Wheel Track (A350-800) 34.77 ft (10.60 m)
(A350-900) 34.77 ft (10.60 m)
(A350-1000) 35.10 ft (10.70 m)

Wheel Base (A350-800) 81.56 ft (24.86 m)
(A350-900) 94.21 ft (28.66 m)
(A350-1000) 108.60 ft (33.10 m)

WEIGHTS & LOADINGS:

Empty (A350-900) 255,075 lb (115,700 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Maximum Takeoff (A350-800) 540,130 lb (245,000 kg)
(A350-900) 584,225 lb (265,000 kg)
(A350-1000) 650,360 lb (295,000 kg)

Maximum Landing (A350-800) 402,345 lb (182,500 kg)
(A350-900) 446,435 lb (202,500 kg)
(A350-1000) 497,140 lb (225,500 kg)

Fuel Capacity (A350-800) 229,480 lb (104,090 kg) in 33,550 gal (127,000 L) wing tanks
(A350-900) 245,390 lb (111,305 kg) in 35,875 gal (135,805 L) wing tanks
(A350-1000) 277,405 lb (125,830 kg) in 40,555 gal (153,520 L) wing tanks

Maximum Payload (A350-800) 142,420 lb (64,600 kg)
(A350-900) 167,550 lb (76,000 kg)
(A350-1000) 201,945 lb (91,600 kg)

Wing Loading (A350-800) 113.3 lb/ft² (553.0 kg/m²)
(A350-900) 122.5 lb/ft² (598.2 kg/m²)
(A350-1000) 136.4 lb/ft² (665.9 kg/m²)

Thrust/Weight Ratio unknown

PROPULSION:

Powerplant (A350-800) two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-74 turbofans
(A350-900) two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-83 turbofans
(A350-1000) two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-92 turbofans

Engine Rating (A350-800) 2 x 74,000 lb (329 kN)
(A350-900) 2 x 83,000 lb (369 kN)
(A350-1000) 2 x 92,000 lb (409 kN)

Engine Intakes Two nacelles on wing pylons

Fuel Type Jet A, Jet A-1

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed
(at altitude) 585 mph (945 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 0.89

Max Level Speed
(at sea level) unknown

Cruise Speed 560 mph (900 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 0.85

Takeoff Speed unknown

Landing Speed unknown

Takeoff Distance unknown

Landing Distance unknown

Maximum Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 43,000 ft (13,105 m)

Range (A350-800) 8,830 nmi (15,370 km)
(A350-900) 8,100 nmi (15,000 km)
(A350-1000) 8,000 nmi (14,815 km)

g-Limits unknown

SYSTEMS:

Radar Honeywell RDR-4000 weather radar

Avionics Thales dual integrated standby instrument system, airport navigation system and "brake to vacate" airport guidance system, Rockwell Collins navigation and landing system and digital radar altimeter, head up display

Flight Controls Digital fly-by-wire

Electrical 400 Hz AC supplied by four 100 kVA, 230 V AC engine-driven starter/generators and a Honeywell HGT 1700 APU providing 1,270 kW (1,700 shp); SAFT batteries for DC power; Hamilton Sundstrand ram-air turbine provides emergency power for flight controls and landing gear

Hydraulics 5,000 psi (34,475 kPa)

Braking Messier-Bugatti brakes

De-icing Goodrich detection system

COMPOSITION:
Composites: 53% of primary structural weight including fuselage skin panels, doublers, joints, floor beams, and stringers, tail unit, and wing
Aluminum: 19% of structure consists of lightweight aluminum and aluminum-lithium alloys including the fuselage frames, nosecone and landing gear bays as well as wing ribs

Titanium: 14% of structural weight including engine components and pylons

Steel: 6% of structural weight including landing gear

Other: 8% of structural weight

VARIANTS:

A350-800 Shortened model for 270 passengers designed as a direct replacement for the A330-200 and a competitor to the Boeing 787-9; about 180 ordered by mid-2009

A350-900 Base model for 314 passengers; about 225 ordered by mid-2009

A350-900F Proposed cargo freighter model based on the A350-900 but equipped with the engines, landing gear, and strengthened structure of the A350-1000

A350-900R Proposed long-range model based on the A350-900 but equipped with the engines, landing gear, and strengthened structure of the A350-1000

A350-1000 Stretched model for 350 passengers; about 50 ordered by mid-2009

A350 Prestige Luxury model of the A350

OPERATORS:

Aer Lingus
Aeroflot
Afriqiyah Airways
AirAsia
Air Caraïbes
Air One
Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO)
Asiana Airlines
BAA Jet Management (VIP)
Bangkok Airways
C Jet (VIP)
China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation (CASGC)
China Airlines
CIT Aerospace Group
DAE Capital
Emirates Airline
Ethiopian Airlines
Etihad Airways
Finnair
Grupo Marsans
Hawaiian Airlines
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)
Kingfisher Airlines
Libyan Airlines
MAZ Aviation (VIP)
Pegasus Aviation
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
Synergy Group
TAM Airlines
TAP Portugal
Tunisair
United Airlines
US Airways
Vietnam Airlines
Yemenia

3-VIEW DIAGRAM:

Airbus A350 XWB

SOURCES:

Aerospace Technology A350 XWB site

Airbus A350 XWB site

-----------------

Aircraft | Design | Ask Us | Shop | Search

DESCRIPTION: The A350 was first announced in 2004 to compete with the Boeing 787. Airbus initially responded to Boeing's efficient airliner by merely offering an updated A330 with new engines and aerodynamic refinements to improve fuel economy. Airlines generally ignored the concept causing Airbus to develop a more elaborate A330 derivative with much the same fuselage but mated to a new composite wing and tail plus more fuel-efficient engines. This first incarnation of the A350 looked nearly identical to the A330 externally but was essentially a new design having only 10% commonality with the earlier Airbus. Although this A350 concept won a few orders, most customers criticized it as vastly inferior to the more revolutionary 787 that was collecting orders at a record pace. This poor reception forced Airbus to scrap the concept and respond with a larger plane competing as much with the 777 as it does with the 787. This completely new design is referred to as the A350 XWB, for "eXtra Wide Body," since the fuselage is wider than the A330 and 787 allowing slightly more seat width per passenger. Another major change between the original A350 and the XWB is a much greater use of composite materials that account for more than half of the plane's structural weight. Both the fuselage and wings are composed of lightweight composites or aluminum-lithium alloys, which coupled with advanced engines and sophisticated aerodynamic refinements, promise significant improvements in fuel efficiency compared to existing airliners. Airbus planned to finalize the design by the end of 2008 in preparation for manufacturing of the first flyable test model. The redesigned A350 XWB has proven much more popular with the airline industry than the earlier A350 and had earned nearly 500 firm orders by July 2009. Most orders are for the A350-900 base model while the slightly smaller A350-800 is close behind. A stretched A350-1000 has also been launched, and a cargo model as well as a long-range version are under consideration. Although initial plans called for the A350 to begin flying in 2008 and enter service by 2010, the extensive XWB redesign and A380 manufacturing issues have delayed the program by about three years. Data below is preliminary and subject to change Last modified 02 May 2011

HISTORY:
First Flight	(A350-800) ? (A350-900) planned for 2011 (A350-1000) ?
Service Entry	(A350-800) planned for 2014 (A350-900) planned for 2013 (A350-1000) planned for 2015

CREW:	two flight crew: pilot, co-pilot and up to eight cabin crew

PASSENGERS:	(A350-800) 270 in three classes, 312 in two classes (A350-900) 314 in three classes, 366 in two classes (A350-1000) 350 in three classes, 412 in two classes

COST:	(A350-800) $206 to $212 million [2008$] (A350-900) $238 to $243 million [2008$] (A350-1000) $267 to $272 million [2008$]

DIMENSIONS:
Length	(A350-800) 198.82 ft (60.60 m) (A350-900) 219.49 ft (66.90 m) (A350-1000) 242.45 ft (73.9 m)
Wingspan	209.97 ft (64.00 m)
Height	55.45 ft (16.90 m)
Fuselage Diameter	19.55 ft (5.96 m)

CABIN:
Length	(A350-800) 149.51 ft (45.57 m) (A350-900) 170.41 ft (51.94 m)
Width	18.40 ft (5.61 m)
Height	unknown
Main Passenger Door	unknown

CARGO CAPACITY:
Baggage Volume	(A350-800) 399.0 ft³ (11.30 m³) (A350-900) 399.0 ft³ (11.30 m³) (A350-1000) 399.0 ft³ (11.30 m³)
Cargo Volume	(A350-800) 4,506.0 ft³ (127.60 m³) (A350-900) 6,085.0 ft³ (172.31 m³) (A350-1000) 7,349.0 ft³ (208.10 m³)
Container Capacity	(A350-800) 28 LD3 or 9 standard pallets (A350-900) 36 LD3 or 11 standard pallets (A350-1000) 44 LD3 or 14 standard pallets
Freight Doors	unknown

WING:
Root Airfoil Section	unknown
Tip Airfoil Section	unknown
Area	4,768 ft² (443.0 m²)
Aspect Ratio	9.25
Sweepback Angle	35° at quarter chord
Control Surface Areas	ailerons: unknown flaps: unknown leading-edge slats: unknown spoilers: unknown

TAIL:
Tailplane Span	68.25 ft (20.80 m)
Tailplane Area	914.9 ft² (85.0 m²)
Tailfin Area	559.7 ft² (52.0 m²)
Control Surface Areas	elevator: unknown rudder: unknown

UNDERCARRIAGE:
Type	Retractable tricycle with two main gear and single steerable nose gear
Main Gear	(A350-800) Four wheels per unit, tire size unknown (A350-900) Four wheels per unit, tire size unknown (A350-1000) Six wheels per unit, tire size unknown
Nose Gear	Twin wheels per unit, tire size unknown
Wheel Track	(A350-800) 34.77 ft (10.60 m) (A350-900) 34.77 ft (10.60 m) (A350-1000) 35.10 ft (10.70 m)
Wheel Base	(A350-800) 81.56 ft (24.86 m) (A350-900) 94.21 ft (28.66 m) (A350-1000) 108.60 ft (33.10 m)

WEIGHTS & LOADINGS:
Empty	(A350-900) 255,075 lb (115,700 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Maximum Takeoff	(A350-800) 540,130 lb (245,000 kg) (A350-900) 584,225 lb (265,000 kg) (A350-1000) 650,360 lb (295,000 kg)
Maximum Landing	(A350-800) 402,345 lb (182,500 kg) (A350-900) 446,435 lb (202,500 kg) (A350-1000) 497,140 lb (225,500 kg)
Fuel Capacity	(A350-800) 229,480 lb (104,090 kg) in 33,550 gal (127,000 L) wing tanks (A350-900) 245,390 lb (111,305 kg) in 35,875 gal (135,805 L) wing tanks (A350-1000) 277,405 lb (125,830 kg) in 40,555 gal (153,520 L) wing tanks
Maximum Payload	(A350-800) 142,420 lb (64,600 kg) (A350-900) 167,550 lb (76,000 kg) (A350-1000) 201,945 lb (91,600 kg)
Wing Loading	(A350-800) 113.3 lb/ft² (553.0 kg/m²) (A350-900) 122.5 lb/ft² (598.2 kg/m²) (A350-1000) 136.4 lb/ft² (665.9 kg/m²)
Thrust/Weight Ratio	unknown

PROPULSION:
Powerplant	(A350-800) two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-74 turbofans (A350-900) two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-83 turbofans (A350-1000) two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-92 turbofans
Engine Rating	(A350-800) 2 x 74,000 lb (329 kN) (A350-900) 2 x 83,000 lb (369 kN) (A350-1000) 2 x 92,000 lb (409 kN)
Engine Intakes	Two nacelles on wing pylons
Fuel Type	Jet A, Jet A-1

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed (at altitude)	585 mph (945 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 0.89
Max Level Speed (at sea level)	unknown
Cruise Speed	560 mph (900 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 0.85
Takeoff Speed	unknown
Landing Speed	unknown
Takeoff Distance	unknown
Landing Distance	unknown
Maximum Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	43,000 ft (13,105 m)
Range	(A350-800) 8,830 nmi (15,370 km) (A350-900) 8,100 nmi (15,000 km) (A350-1000) 8,000 nmi (14,815 km)
g-Limits	unknown

SYSTEMS:
Radar	Honeywell RDR-4000 weather radar
Avionics	Thales dual integrated standby instrument system, airport navigation system and "brake to vacate" airport guidance system, Rockwell Collins navigation and landing system and digital radar altimeter, head up display
Flight Controls	Digital fly-by-wire
Electrical	400 Hz AC supplied by four 100 kVA, 230 V AC engine-driven starter/generators and a Honeywell HGT 1700 APU providing 1,270 kW (1,700 shp); SAFT batteries for DC power; Hamilton Sundstrand ram-air turbine provides emergency power for flight controls and landing gear
Hydraulics	5,000 psi (34,475 kPa)
Braking	Messier-Bugatti brakes
De-icing	Goodrich detection system

COMPOSITION:	Composites: 53% of primary structural weight including fuselage skin panels, doublers, joints, floor beams, and stringers, tail unit, and wing Aluminum: 19% of structure consists of lightweight aluminum and aluminum-lithium alloys including the fuselage frames, nosecone and landing gear bays as well as wing ribs Titanium: 14% of structural weight including engine components and pylons Steel: 6% of structural weight including landing gear Other: 8% of structural weight

VARIANTS:
A350-800	Shortened model for 270 passengers designed as a direct replacement for the A330-200 and a competitor to the Boeing 787-9; about 180 ordered by mid-2009
A350-900	Base model for 314 passengers; about 225 ordered by mid-2009
A350-900F	Proposed cargo freighter model based on the A350-900 but equipped with the engines, landing gear, and strengthened structure of the A350-1000
A350-900R	Proposed long-range model based on the A350-900 but equipped with the engines, landing gear, and strengthened structure of the A350-1000
A350-1000	Stretched model for 350 passengers; about 50 ordered by mid-2009
A350 Prestige	Luxury model of the A350

OPERATORS:
	Aer Lingus Aeroflot Afriqiyah Airways AirAsia Air Caraïbes Air One Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) Asiana Airlines BAA Jet Management (VIP) Bangkok Airways C Jet (VIP) China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation (CASGC) China Airlines CIT Aerospace Group DAE Capital Emirates Airline Ethiopian Airlines Etihad Airways Finnair Grupo Marsans Hawaiian Airlines International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) Kingfisher Airlines Libyan Airlines MAZ Aviation (VIP) Pegasus Aviation Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines Synergy Group TAM Airlines TAP Portugal Tunisair United Airlines US Airways Vietnam Airlines Yemenia

3-VIEW DIAGRAM:

SOURCES: Aerospace Technology A350 XWB site Airbus A350 XWB site
-----------------