WFS and Kuehne+Nagel expand partnership in Frankfurt
Apr 30, 2026 at 7:19 AM
Liebherr-Aerospace has announced the first delivery of the nose landing gear for the Airbus A350F freighter aircraft. This delivery represents another step in the long-standing partnership with Airbus, which began over 50 years ago. Liebherr-Aerospace has been a key partner since the inception of the A350 program, supplying essential components for flight control as well as the nose landing gear. Over the years, the company has continuously developed its technology in the landing gear sector to meet the evolving demands of new aircraft variants.
Technological adjustments for the A350F
The latest version of the A350F, designed for long-haul cargo operations, required extensive adjustments to both the base aircraft and the onboard systems. One of the challenges with such a large freighter aircraft is ensuring stability on the ground during the loading process through the rear cargo door. This door is located behind the landing gear, posing a potential risk of tipping the tail section during improper loading. As part of the safety concept „Safety Beyond Standard,“ Airbus has developed an innovative warning system that alerts to such incidents. The aircraft’s balance on the ground is calculated based on the load on the nose landing gear. To determine this load, Liebherr has developed a new electronic pressure sensor integrated into the control valve that monitors the pressure in the internal shock absorber.
Extensive components for the A350 Family
Liebherr-Aerospace supplies a variety of components to the A350 family, including the differential gearbox for the flaps, the load sensor drive, the actuator for the lower deck cargo door, the movable damper, the nose landing gear, and the systems for operating the leading edges. The nose landing gear for the A350F is developed, qualified, and manufactured in Lindenberg, Swabia, with comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services provided for the aftermarket.
Gerd Heinzelmann, Managing Director of Customer Service at Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH, stated: „We greatly appreciate Airbus’s continued trust in us. As a developer with more than six decades of experience and a long-standing supplier of nose landing gear for the Airbus A350, we are proud to contribute to the operational safety of the freighter version. The customer’s trust in the quality of our products and engineering services marks another milestone in our collaboration and paves the way for future successes.“
With the integration of new components and systems specifically developed for the A350F, Liebherr-Aerospace continues its support for Airbus in delivering safe and reliable solutions for the aviation industry—both on the ground and in the air. This delivery underscores the close cooperation between the two companies as they jointly advance aerospace technology for the next generation of wide-body and freighter aircraft.
