| The UK has designed and built the wings for the | | | | sub-assemblies are assembled into a complete |
| Airbus A380 at two sites in the UK, Filton, near Bristol | | | | wingbox. The leading edge on an A380 wing is 45 |
| and Broughton, North Wales. The West Factory at | | | | metres long. Also added to the wing assembly at this |
| Broughton is huge, equivalent to 12 full size football | | | | location are fuel, pneumatic and hydraulic systems |
| pitches. | | | | and wiring. The importance of next generation |
| Although Airbus wings have been made at Broughton | | | | composite wing research to Wales is key to |
| for some time and the breathtaking logistics of | | | | strategists and Trade Associations with the brief to |
| transporting wings and structures by air and sea for | | | | promote Wales as an Aerospace Centre of |
| final assembly in Toulouse has passed into legend, | | | | Excellence. Also located in Wales are companies like |
| Filton has become the centre for composite wing | | | | Cytec high performance prepregs who work with |
| research and design. They manage both the A380 | | | | composites and high temperature sealants. Cytec's |
| wing and A380 landing gear components. | | | | materials can be found in both primary and secondary |
| Filton is the main rib manufacturing facility where 40 | | | | structures, interiors, engines and nacelles. |
| of the 124 composite wing ribs in an A380 wing-set | | | | High-performance prepregs and structural composites |
| are manufactured. Broughton North Wales is the first | | | | provide high-temperature performance, corrosion |
| destination for these components, 32,000 in total, | | | | resistance and damage tolerance and are inherently |
| which comprise a set of A380 wings. It's at | | | | lightweight structures. |
| Broughton that these components and | | | | |