£12m plane research centre opens

The first phase of a £12m research centre for aircraft construction has opened in Filton, Bristol.

The Airbus-backed centre will help research cost-effective ways of making the composite materials which are used to build aircraft.

Funding for the centre also came from the Department of Trade and Industry and the South West Regional Development Agency.

Research work worth more than £100m will take place over five years.

Using lighter composites in plane manufacturing has significant advantages - including lower fuel costs.

Iain Gray from Airbus said: "Filton has a long record of composite research and development in partnership with academia, industry and other bodies.

"This centre is key to substantially advancing that vital work and our collaborative approach.

"For the first time we will be sharing expertise with other industries in the UK, to develop competitive applications for one of the most significant advances global manufacturing has seen in recent times."