Testing on individual A380 systems has been undertaken at many of the Airbus plants around Europe. "Landing gear zero" is being tested by Airbus UK in Filton, where the first drop test was carried out in July. Braking and steering systems have also been evaluated and extension/retraction tests completed.
Director of A380 systems Michel Comes says that the iron bird in Toulouse has verified the 345bar (5,000lb/in2) hydraulic system: "It is now undertaking endurance testing." The iron bird has also been used for partial integration tests with flight controls and autopilot computers. A dedicated high-lift test rig is also operational at Bremen in Germany.
Airbus UK, which designs and builds the wing, is also running a fuel integration bench test in Filton, as well as wet-test rig where surge testing began in July. Three A380 cockpit simulators are running in Toulouse, where testing is underway of systems built to MSN001's equipment standard to prepare for flight testing. Coupling the iron bird with one of the cockpit simulators to create the so-called "Aircraft Zero" has begun, to check the integration of all the systems.
Comes says that Airbus plans to use Aircraft Zero to perform a "virtual first flight" using flight-test personnel formally for the first time: "This is due at the end of the year, we will have all systems connected and a flight plan." All the interior testing has been undertaken at Hamburg Finkenwerder on the "Cabin Zero" rig, which comprises all the elements and systems of the cabin equipment.
The two route-proving aircraft, MSN002 and MSN007, will have representative cabin and in-flight entertainment system equipment. The Cabin Zero configuration has been completed at Hamburg for MSN002, and a "virtual first flight" of the cabin is planned for mid-2005, ahead of actual flight-testing on MSN002, which is due to start in the third quarter.
Source: Flight International
