Recently, Airbus expects the demand for commercial aircraft to increase over the next 20 years as the trend of aircraft modernization and good demand prospects in Asia will drive the demand for commercial aircraft.
According to the European aircraft manufacturer, deliveries of new commercial aircraft are forecast to rise to 41,490 by 2043 up 4% from last year's forecast. Increased demand for wide-body aircraft has prompted an upward revision of expectations, with Airbus forecasting shipments of 7,980 wide-body airplanes by 2043, up 9.3% from the 2023 forecast.
Nonetheless, narrow-body jets will continue to drive broad-based growth, accounting for 80% of the forecast delivery mix. Aircars forecasts shipments of 33,510 single-aisle airplanes by 2043, up 2.7 percent from last year's estimate.
Over a 20-year period, Airbus expects that some 18,660, or 45%, of new deliveries will be used to replace existing aircraft as airlines phase out "old, inefficient" models in favor of newer jets that help meet sustainability goals.
The company expects China and India, as well as the Middle East, to drive demand growth, further shifting the "center of gravity of the airline industry" to Asia.
A few weeks ago, the aircraft maker slashed its delivery guidance for 2024 and pushed back its A320 production capacity plans by a year due to continued pressure on its supply chain, which has led to constraints such as parts shortages.
In commercial aviation, titanium has become an indispensable material for the manufacture of high-performance aircraft structural components due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, such as high strength, low density, and good corrosion and high temperature resistance. From Airbus in Europe to Boeing in the U.S., to COMAC and Sino-Russian joint ventures, titanium is used in large quantities to create key components for their flagship aircraft.
Airbus A380 large airliner in Europe
As the world's largest wide-body civilian aircraft, the A380 takes full advantage of titanium in its design and manufacturing process. The net mass of its titanium alloy parts accounts for about 10% of the total net mass of the entire aircraft, and the amount of titanium used on a single aircraft is as high as about 65 tons. These titanium alloy parts include, but are not limited to: engine pods, skins, attachment ports and connecting ring wings, which not only withstand huge loads, but also ensure the stable operation of the engine and efficient heat dissipation; the front bulkhead, the shaft between the inner flap and the wing structural components, which ensures the strength and stability of the wing, and still maintains a good flight performance in a complex aerodynamic environment; the folding leaf rail raceways, trailing edges, axle parts In addition, some engine hangers, propulsion parts, leading edges and front brackets are also made of titanium alloy to cope with extreme working environments such as high temperature and high pressure; finally, some landing devices and weldable wing (strip) rails are also made of titanium alloy to ensure the safety and stability of the airplane in the process of take-off and landing.
Boeing B777 and B787
Boeing has also used titanium in the design of its B777 series airplanes to manufacture key components. In particular, the B777 forged landing gear components, the choice of Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al (Ti-10-2-3) material, this alloy has high strength and good toughness, able to withstand the landing gear in the landing and takeoff generated by the huge impact. In the era of the B787 Dreamliner, Boeing has adopted a more advanced titanium alloy - the Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr (Ti-5553) alloy originally developed in Russia. This alloy not only has higher strength and better corrosion resistance, but also has good machinability and weldability, providing strong support for the B787's lightweight design and high performance.
COMAC C919 and Sino-Russian Joint Venture CR929
In the development of domestic commercial aircraft, COMAC and the Sino-Russian Joint Venture Company have also fully recognized the importance of titanium, which has been used in the design and manufacture of key structural components for both the C919 and CR929 models. These titanium components not only improve the overall performance of the aircraft, but also reduce the weight and fuel consumption of the aircraft, enhancing the economy and environmental protection of the aircraft. Through the combination of convergence with the international advanced level and independent innovation, China's commercial airplanes have made remarkable progress in the application of titanium materials, laying a solid foundation for future competition in the international market.
