Boeing and Airbus Explore Thermoplastic for 100-Jets-Per-Month Future, and More
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Boeing and Airbus Explore Unprecedented Production Rates With Thermoplastic Aircraft
Airbus and Boeing are signaling ambitious plans to dramatically increase production rates for their next generation of narrow-body aircraft, potentially targeting up to 100 jets per month each, as per Reuters.
Both manufacturers are exploring advanced thermoplastic materials and robotic assembly techniques to achieve these unprecedented output levels.
However, actual launches of new aircraft programs remain years away due to supply chain challenges and engine development timelines.
Key Points
- Production targets represent manufacturing one 200-seat aircraft every few hours
- Thermoplastics enable ultrasonic welding instead of rivets, eliminating time-consuming autoclave processing
- Airbus CEO Faury describes the next single-aisle jet as "evolutionary rather than revolutionary"
- Next-generation aircraft will likely combine multiple manufacturing approaches rather than relying on a single technology
- Both manufacturers currently struggle with existing production goals - Boeing recovering from safety issues while Airbus battles supply chain constraints
- Both companies are prioritizing manufacturing capacity as a key competitive factor, especially as they face growing competition from China
- As new market entrants like Boom Supersonic and JetZero target innovation gaps, Airbus and Boeing's material and automation advances also aim to defend their duopoly
What It Means
The shift toward thermoplastics and automated production represents a fundamental transformation in how commercial aircraft are manufactured.
This technology pivot is driven not just by environmental concerns but by economic necessity as both manufacturers seek to maintain market dominance while addressing massive order backlogs.
The aerospace supply chain faces significant disruption as it adapts to these new materials and production rates.
