Rare pic…

The engine nacelles are supplied by Shorts/Bombardier – I wonder if they supply them painted ????

Thanks ageorge, it all makes sense now.

I suppose having watched the documentary on the American Airlines A300 crash recently, I should have guessed the tail would be the quickest part of the manufacturing process.

Looking again at the picture, I’m guessing Rolls Royce supply the engines ready painted too ?

Airbus paint the whole tailfin first as it is made entirely of carbonfibre composite , it’s the largest single carbonfibre assembly on the aircraft and is it’s easier to seal and paint it during assembly . Painting carbonfibre requires different surface preparation and primer than other materials . All the other smaller carbonfibre parts are prepped and primed when the rest of the airframe is painted.

Don’t know for sure but it probably to ensure the correct mass balancing of each flight control surface for the test flying program. The mass of each control surface is critical to avoid flutter so therefore it needs to be completed (including having been sprayed) before flight.

regards
wys

Oh, and I think you’ll find it’s an A320

its actually the rudders – if you have a look on the Boeing production lines a/c have painted rudders whereas Airbus go for job lot tail.

Nice to see a differant pic!

Rare pic…

I think the tail is painted first because the plane must be balanced to an exact point, it may sound weird but even the paint on an aircraft can effect the balance. Sorry if i am wrong.

Great pic, I notice tail planes always seem to be the first things painted up with Airbus and Boeing too. Are they manufactured, third party and therefore delivered already painted ?

Wow, fantastic photograph!