The A350 XWB final assembly of the first started on the new final assembly line in Toulouse. This stage is progressing dell'A350XWB marked the beginning of the union of the central part of the fuselage (of 19,7 m in length) with the front part of the fuselage (21 m in length).
This first cell of the A350 XWB will be used for static structural tests that all new aircraft must be made in the certification process. The assembly of MSN1, A350 XWB for the first flight test, will begin this summer.
The central part of the fuselage, came from Airbus site of Saint Nazare, was transported by Beluga in Toulouse, transport aircraft from Airbus, the 4 April 2012. The front part of the fuselage had previously been transported from Saint-Nazaire to the final assembly line of the A350 XWB the 23 December 2011. The delivery and installation of the rear of the fuselage from Hamburg will take place over the next few weeks, followed by delivery of the wings, arriving from the Airbus site in Broughton, in the United Kingdom.
The fuselage of the A350 XWB consists of three main sections (front, center and rear). The union of these three sections will be performed at the first station of the main assembly, Station 50. The nose gear is assembled at this station. After this stage the fuselage will be transferred to Station 40, for joining the wings and tail sections. At the same, will proceed simultaneously with installation of the cabin, union of the wings to the fuselage and the tensioning system of the aircraft. In this way you can switch to functional tests faster than the timing of previous programs.