The gradual growth of the A3XX, seen best in the progressive increases in wing area, fuel capacity, takeoff weight, payload, and range soon overcame the thrust capability of the derivative A330 engines that were originally penciled into the design. The wing was also originally expected to feature variable camber “shape shifting” and possibly even laminar-flow (boundary layer) control technology to improve the cruise efficiency of the big aerofoil. These features were dropped, however, in favor of a simpler, lighter single-slotted flap design and a more advanced, aft-loaded aerodynamic wing cross section. Mark Wagner