X wing cockpit
(See “ Airbus Albatross flapping wing achieves gate-to-gate demonstration” and video below). The semi-aeroelastic hinge can be locked and unlocked to freely flap in flight, explains Aviation Week editors Graham Warwick and Guy Norris in their Sept. 20 article, “ Airbus X-Plane Will Test Inflight Folding Wingtips.” The promise of this technology, they report, was shown in 2019-20 flights of a sub-scale unmanned model, the AlbatrossONE, that was developed by Airbus U.K. Various technologies will be investigated to allow for active control of the wing including: multifunctional trailing edges that dynamically change wing surface in flight, pop-up spoilers or plates that are rapidly deflected perpendicular to airflow, gust sensors and a semi-aeroelastic hinge. Similar to how an eagle soars - adapting the shape, span and surface of its wings and feathers - this “extra-performing wing demonstrator” will enable increased flight efficiency. Photo Credit: AirbusĪirbus has announced what it calls “an extra-performing wing demonstrator” that will accelerate and validate technologies to improve and optimize the wing aerodynamics and performance for future aircraft.
![x wing cockpit x wing cockpit](https://live.staticflickr.com/5070/5774979364_2bb89e8213_b.jpg)
(Bottom) AlbatrossONE demonstrator with hinged composite wing. (Top) Cessna Citation VII with artist rendering of extra-performing wings.