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also do some drilling of the leading edge before sending the entire structure on to the second Stage 2 workstation, PreEquip 2. Pre-Equip 2 sees the installation of the initial equipment needed to complete assembly of the wing. This includes harness brackets (which are positioned with the aid of laser-projection equipment and adhesively applied) and weight-supporting brackets for the leading and trailing edges. Once they are installed, Airbus conducts a tank pressure test, ���rst with air, then with hydrogen/nitrogen, to verify the integrity of the fuel-storage capability of the wing. Stage 3 After the wing passes the pressure test, it���s on to Stage 3, the Final Equip line, which handles the ���nal stage of wing assembly before it���s sent on to the A400M FAL. Most of the heavy-duty hardware is installed on this line, followed by wing actuation and testing. Included here is installation of electrical wiring, air bleeds, ���re protection equipment, ���xed leading edges, ailerons, spoilers and ���aps. Notable here is the installation of carbon ���ber composite fuel pipes throughout the wing. The pipes are fabricated and supplied by Adel Wiggins Inc. (Los Angeles, Calif). It���s at this stage that Airbus also installs one more carbon ���ber component of note: A driveshaft for ���ap actuation, provided by Goodrich Corp.���s Crompton Technology Group (CTG, Banbury, Oxfordshire, U.K.). The shafts, about 1m/3.3 ft long and 40 mm/1.57-inches in diameter, are ���lament wound carbon ���ber and feature stainless steel end ���ttings. CTG reports that its shafts go through a minimum four- to six-lifecycle quali���cation process and are designed for a minimum operating life of 20 years. After all components are installed and attached, the wing attains its full weight of ~6,500 kg/~14,330 lb and goes through a full function test of all components to verity that the wing is operating as it should. It���s then ready to be sent to the FAL in Spain. Since the A400M was ���rst conceived 10 years ago, and the decision was taken to use carbon ���ber composites as extensively as Airbus did in the wings, other aircraft have come to market that use composites in similar ways ��� Boeing���s 787, the Airbus A350, the Bombardier CSeries, and more. In many ways, howev- er, the A400M Atlas started the trend, set the standard and, in the military market, remains the largest aircraft to use composites so aggressively. Evans stressed repeatedly to HPC that composites lessons learned on the A400M Atlas wing assembly line have been applied throughout the Airbus organization, and these lessons will bene���t Airbus design and manufacturing practice for years to come. ���This was a scale of composites use in a structure Airbus had not tried before,��� says Evans. ���It took a lot of effort and learning to get this far, but it certainly has been worth it.��� W yoming T est F ixtures INC. Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence 1988-2013 Learn More @ www.compositesworld.com Read this article online at http://short.compositesworld.com/5lmGKn6X. ��� Over 40 types of fixtures in stock, ready to be shipped. ��� Expert consultation with Dr. Adams ��� Email or call today to discuss your fixture and custom design needs. Our product catalog is available on our website Short Beam Shear ASTM D 2344 Miniature Short Beam Shear Shown with Miniature Three/Four Point Short Beam Shear Screw Adjustable Short Beam Shear We provide quotes for a variety of grips, ���xtures, and jigs. We carry over 40 types of ���xtures in stock, available for immediate delivery. Email or call us today. We look forward to hearing from you. Dr. Donald F. Adams 2960 E. Millcreek Canyon Road President Salt Lake City, UT 84109 50 years of Phone (801) 484.5055 Composite Testing Experience Fax (801) 484.6008 email: wtf@wyomingtestfixtures.com www.wyomingtestfixtures.com JANUARY 2013 | 31