Belfast aerospace manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems is to play a pivotal role in the development of so-called flying cars as it agrees a new contract with Airbus.
It will develop and build the wings for the CityAirbus NextGen, a new four-seater electrically-powered aeroplane and helicopter hybrid capable of taking off vertically without the need for a runway.
Airbus said the CityAirbus is “perfectly suited to zero-emission flight operations for a variety of applications in major cities”, a move which could see aircraft acting as taxis in urban areas.
To bring the aircraft’s vision to life, Spirit AeroSystems engineers will work with Airbus to minimize the weight of the fixed wings it will be producing so that it can both hover and cruise efficiently.
“The partnership with Spirit AeroSystems is an important step for the development of CityAirbus NextGen and its wings are key structural components for flight efficiency,” said Jörg Müller, Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus. “To build this vehicle, we are proud to work with Spirit as a strategic partner who benefits from a proven track record in this field, and extensive experience in component quality and airworthiness.”
The fully electric CityAirbus NextGen is an eVTOL prototype equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its distributed propulsion system. CityAirbus NextGen is being developed to fly with a 80 kilometre operational range and to reach a cruise speed of 120 km/h.
Spirit Aerosystems’ Belfast base has a long history of making wings for Airbus, Boeing and for Bombardier, the Canadian company which previously owned the business. Spirit bought the business in 2020 and employs around 3,000 people at the site.
