The new Airbus A350 XWB contains more than 1,000 parts which were created using 3D printing, it has been revealed.
The BBC reported that the aircraft manufacturers have only recently been able to use the technique on such a scale, with the 3D-printed elements on the A350 allowing it to be delivered in time in December last year.
James Woodcock, an expert on 3D printing with Rapid News, told the BBC: “From what I can gather it’s certainly unprecedented in scale..
“Historically, the use of 3D printed parts have been in military aircraft rather than commercial passenger jets.”
The parts were manufactured by Stratasys under supervision by Airbus. The news means that the A350 XWB contains more 3D printed parts than any other aircraft.