In preparation for its upcoming maiden flight, the first Airbus BelugaXL (
www.airbus.com) is now in its heavy ground-test phase; this focuses on the highly modified airframe for the next-generation oversize cargo airlifter.
According to ground-test project leader Mathieu Laemle, a total of 72 development and certification tests must be performed before the aircraft’s high-profile first flight, which is planned for this summer.
“With more than 48 tests already completed, we are on time,” he said.
“The big challenge was to be able to anticipate or modify the test scheduling, so as not to impact final assembly.”
Airbus has succeeded in keeping things on track thanks to early analysis of what was needed and excellent multi-disciplinary collaboration between the design office, laboratories, tests and programme teams.
The heavy ground tests started with the team weighing the first BelugaXL at “pitch zero” and then at “pitch nine,” lifting the aircraft’s nose by 3.5m to determine the empty-weight centre of gravity.
Next were the standard loads and horizontal tailplane tests, followed by separate evaluations involving the dorsal fin and the vertical tailplane.
BelugaXL aircraft configuration leader Arnaud Puyo said: “It is unusual for us to perform tests like load calibration using the generalised finite-element method of analysis on an aircraft that will fly, as we usually use a dedicated clean aircraft without any systems inside.”
Next came eight days of ground vibration testing, performed in conjunction with France’s ONERA aerospace research centre and Germany’s DLR aerospace research centre.
This required a week of intensive preparation, during which the aircraft was put on pneumatic suspension and 80kg shakers were installed in 30 locations to make it move.
The remaining steps before the aircraft’s maiden flight include validating the flight test instrumentation and applying its special “smiling” livery.
Starting in mid-2019, the BelugaXL will gradually replace the existing five-member Beluga ST fleet, which is used to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from production sites around Europe to the final assembly lines in Toulouse and Hamburg.