AUTONEWS

Project TAKE OFF: the innovative open-fan engine that will be installed on the Airbus A380 by December 2029

Safran Aircraft Engines officially leads the TAKE OFF project, which aims to develop and conduct flight tests of an open-fan engine installed on an Airbus A380 by December 2029. This four-year initiative is funded by the European Union's Clean Aviation program, which covers €100 million of the €139 million total cost.

The proposal leverages technological advancements achieved in the previous OFELIA project to refine the open-fan engine design to Technology Relevant Level (TRL) 6. The program covers all stages, from engine design and assembly, through aircraft integration and flight authorization, to the analysis of collected data and calibration of the models used.

Furthermore, TAKE OFF collaborates with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and pave the way for certification of the new technology.

CFM International, a partnership between Safran and GE Aerospace, also develops open-fan engines in the RISE program, initiated in 2021, focused on reducing kerosene consumption by 20% for new-generation engines intended for narrowbody aircraft, with entry into service expected in the middle of the next decade.

The project is backed by a 100 million euro grant from the Clean Aviation public-private partnership. Safran Aircraft Engines serves as the consortium leader, coordinating 25 partners that include industry giants such as Airbus, Avio Aero and GKN Aerospace, alongside various universities and research centers. The group aims to demonstrate a full-scale Open Fan flight by the end of the decade, building on previous technological foundations from the OFELIA and COMPANION projects.

Unveiled in 2021 through the CFM RISE program, the Open Fan architecture targets a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to current engines. Pierre Cottenceau, vice president of engineering, research and technology at Safran Aircraft Engines, said the project embodies a shared ambition to make aviation more sustainable. Cottenceau noted that the collaboration will showcase the benefits of the architecture in terms of both energy efficiency and acoustic performance.

The scope of TAKE OFF covers every phase of development, including engine assembly, aircraft integration and flight clearance. The project will culminate in a flight demonstration using an Airbus A380, which is intended to prove the technology’s maturity at a pre-development level. According to María Calvo, head of unit project management at Clean Aviation, the project is a flagship action for short- and medium-range aircraft thrust.

Data gathered from the flight tests, which are expected to take place in 2029, will undergo comprehensive post-flight analysis. If successful, these efforts will pave the way for the Open Fan engine to enter service by the middle of the next decade. This timeline aligns with the broader European goal of developing ultra-efficient propulsion systems to reduce the environmental impact of the aviation sector.

Within the Clean Aviation funding framework, Safran group companies receive €35.4 million, while GE's European subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, and Poland receive €14.5 million.

Airbus, with its European divisions, receives €34.2 million, in addition to contributions from GKN Aerospace in Sweden (€4 million), national aerospace research centers in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, and various academic institutions.

Pierre Cottenceau, Vice President of Engineering, Research and Technology at Safran Aircraft Engines, highlights that TAKE OFF represents the shared ambition of the European Union and the aerospace industry to promote more sustainable aviation, emphasizing the gains in energy efficiency and noise reduction that open-fan architecture can offer.

The flight tests will be conducted within the COMPANION project, led by Airbus and also funded by the Clean Aviation program. To this end, Airbus is preparing the conversion of a former Airbus A380 into a common demonstrator, with modifications scheduled to begin in 2027.

by Autonews