GE Aviation joins Wing of Tomorrow programme

GE Aviation, through its Hamble aerostructures business, in partnership with Airbus U.K., GKN and Spirit Aerosystems, is proud to support the development of a next-generation, high rate-manufacture wing on the Wing of Tomorrow programme.

The Airbus U.K.-led consortium has been set up with support from the UK Aerospace Research & Technology Programme - delivered in partnership by the Aerospace Technology Institute, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK - to develop three wing demonstrators by end of Q1 2021 in order to progress high rate manufacturing and increase the use of composite materials in aviation.

GE Aviation Aerostructures is providing a number of technology developments that bring an innovative approach to the design and high rate manufacture of wing trailing edge assembled modules. Current aircraft production relies on assembly by the OEM of individual components to the wing trailing edge after assembly of the main wing box. GE is also proposing the use of automated fibre placement and additive manufacturing to increase rate capability in primary structure.

Paulo Mancilla, engineering executive for the GE Aviation aerostructures business said: "The Wing of Tomorrow programme looks to leverage the vast aircraft structures experience and technology developments of the GE Aviation Hamble team to contribute to the development and manufacture of new and innovative wing structure with a specific focus on new and emerging technologies and processes to increase rate manufacturing."

The GE Aviation team is proud and committed to be working with its partners (AUK, GKN, Spirit) to develop the concept, and this collaboration is made possible through the funding and support provided by the Aerospace Technology Institute.