The testing is taking place at Bombardier’s Belfast facility, in Northern Ireland, which is responsible for the design, development and manufacture of the composite wings for the CSeries aircraft. The Belfast operation has successfully assembled a full-scale, three-quarter span pre-production demonstrator wing using its resin transfer infusion process.

A specially-designed rig was constructed for the demonstrator test programme. This rig represents the outer wing to centre wing box and centre fuselage attachments, including a simulated main landing gear leg and a simulated engine and pylon. Controlled loading will be applied to these key areas of the demonstrator, thereby replicating the maximum loading conditions that the wing will see in service. The data collected will enable Bombardier’s engineers to validate their stress and design assumptions.

“Producing this demonstrator has been a significant investment for us, but will bring significant benefits," says Michael Ryan, Vice President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast. "Through a rigorous testing programme, we will get real test data from the demonstrator which will enable us to optimise the design of the actual CSeries aircraft production wing. This will allow us to create the lightest weight solution with the utmost confidence in the wing’s structural integrity.”

Since launching the CSeries family of aircraft at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for a total of 90 CSeries aircraft. The CSeries is optimised for the single-aisle 100- to 149-seat market.