CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/450689
Lockheed Martin (Ft. Worth, TX, US) reported on Dec. 22, 2014, that the US Department of Defense (DoD) had accepted its fnal F-35 Lightning II delivery of the year, AEROSPACE Airbus (Toulouse, France) reported on Dec. 22, 2014 that it had delivered the frst A350 XWB to Qatar Airways. Airbus claims that the A350 XWB, its answer to The Boeing Co.'s (Chicago, IL. US) mid-size, wide-body commercial airliner, the 787 Dreamliner, embodies the most advanced technologies and breakthrough innova- tions in aerodynamics, composites and aircraft systems. Reportedly 52% composite by weight (the 787 is roughly 50%), the A350 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, which are expected to be more fuel efcient and quieter than previous turbofans. Airbus predicts the plane will provide Qatar and its other airline customers with unprecedented operating efciency and cost efec- tiveness. The plane also features a slightly wider, more spacious cabin than the 787. "Receiving the A350 XWB as global launch customer is a very proud moment for Qatar Airways, and after much anticipation, I am delighted that the day has come when we welcome this latest-generation aircraft into our rapidly expanding feet," says Qatar Airways Group chief execu- tive, Akbar Al Baker. "I am … delighted that Qatar Airways will be leading the way in the aviation sector in ofering our passengers the opportunity to travel on board the most modern of airliners in the sky." Airbus delivers first A350 XWB to launch customer Qatar Airways Lockheed Martin celebrates F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's 36 th delivery during 2014 meeting the program's 2014 production goal of 36 aircraft. That brought the total number of operational aircraft deliv- ered to the US and partner nations to 109 since the program's inception. The 36 th delivery — aircraft CF-19 — was the frst F-35C (aircraft-carrier variant) delivered to the US Marine Corps. The jet will be assigned to the US Navy's VFA-101 "Grim Reapers" Fighter Squadron, 33 rd Fighter Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, FL, US. "Delivering the most F-35s in program history is a clear demonstration of our growing stability and ability to ramp up production," says Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Program general manager. "Congratulations to the entire government-and-industry team for their work to deliver 36 aircraft." View a four-minute video on the F-35 program, narrated by Martin, online | short.compositesworld.com/F-35-2014 A complete list of F-35 deliveries, to date, appears with the online article | short.compositesworld.com/F35Goal14 As the Airbus A350 and Lockheed Martin F-35 programs pass production milestones with noteworthy deliveries, wind energy gets a welcome positive forecast. Source / Airbus Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO, says, "Handing over the frst A350 XWB represents a signifcant step in Airbus and aviation history. It's a perfect match, to be handing over the frst of an all-new, world-class aircraft to a leading, world-class airline." Congratulations to Airbus on the launch came in from several composites industry suppliers, including Hexcel (Stamford, CT, US), which supplies carbon fber prepreg; GKN Aerospace (Redditch, UK), the maker of A350 wing and engine structures; Spirit AeroSystems (Wichita, KS, US), the manufacturer of the plane's fuselage and wing structures; and TenCate Advanced Composites (Nijverdal, The Netherlands), the supplier of the plane's thermoplastics. Source / Lockheed Martin CompositesWorld.com 13 TRENDS