Loughborough Branch: Written in the stars - A321XLR Flight Test Programme

Airbus announced in early 2018 a significant development to its A321 family of aircraft, with the principal objective of extending the aircraft's range to more than 4,500 nautical miles. This ambitious goal required extending fuel capacity and increasing the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 101 tonnes—a remarkable achievement considering the A321's wing, structure, and landing gear were originally designed and certified for just 68 tonnes.

This lecture presents the technical modifications made to the A321XLR and details the comprehensive flight testing programme required to achieve CS25 certification. Jim Fawcett, Lead Flight Test Engineer at Airbus, will explain the engineering challenges and solutions, complemented by behind-the-scenes anecdotes illustrating the flight test team's exceptional work ethic. The EASA recognised their efforts, noting: "Despite immense technical and non-technical pressures, the Airbus Flight Test Team exhibited a remarkable blend of technical expertise, innovative problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to safety. Their exemplary attitude and performance ensured that every aspect of the A321XLR not only met, but sometimes exceeded, the stringent CS25 certification requirements, certainly setting a new benchmark for long-range single-aisle aircraft."

Speaker Jim Fawcett is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, specialising in flight management systems, communications, cockpit design, display systems, and radio navigation. He trained at the French flight test academy EPNER and has logged nearly 3,500 hours on test flights. RAeS Members, Associated Branch Members, and students attend free; non-members are encouraged to donate £3.