The Airbus A330neo has flown as a test frame for some time now. However, the first operator to get the A330neo will be happy – as their plane as entered the final assembly area at Airbus Toulouse.
Airbus revealed this in a tweet
“Bom dia!” Say hello to @taportugal‘s first #A330neo currently taking shape at our Toulouse Final Assembly Line. pic.twitter.com/5ZOKteuXzI
— Airbus (@Airbus) July 20, 2017
Let’s take a closer look at the images and what they show us
TAP A330neo Horizontal Stabliser – Image, Airbus via Twitter
First up is the horizontal stabiliser being wheeled in, and pre-painted in modern TAP colours as it is brought into the final assembly area.
Next up, a wider shot.
TAP A330neo Horizontal Stabliser and winglet- Image, Airbus via Twitter
The wider shot is a little more interesting, with the horizontal stabiliser being lifted up. In the foreground is a wrapped winglet for assumingly this A330neo (as it appears to be the front and bottom of the picture)
Lets look a the final picture.
TAP A330neo Horizontal Stabliser being mated – Image, Airbus via Twitter
In the final picture, the horizontal stabiliser is being mated to the tail section of an A330neo body.
TAP Portugal have 16 Airbus A330neo aircraft on order, and will be the first wide-body Airbus to feature the Airspace by Airbus cabin.
Airspace by Airbus mockup – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
You can find out my impressions about the Airspace by Airbus cabin here.
As time goes on, I suspect we’ll see more news about TAP Portugal’s first and how the cabin out-fitting is going – and how they are choosing to configure it.
For the Airbus A330neo however, its turning from test, to concept and now, towards a real product for a customer.
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