(CercleFinance.com) – Safran Aircraft Engines announces that it is conducting the first wind tunnel test campaigns, in the town of Modane, of ECOENGInE, a 1/5th scale demonstrator of the future Open Fan, in partnership with the ONERA, the French aerospace research center.
The ECOENGInE tests aim to demonstrate the aerodynamic and acoustic performances of the fan module by simulating a flight environment, and to validate the design of the fan blades.
According to Safran, the Open Fan would ultimately make it possible to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20% – up to 80% with the incorporation of sustainable fuels – on the next generation of single-aisle aircraft by 2035.
In order to support the rise in maturity of the aerodynamics and acoustics of the OpenFan, Safran Aircraft Engines and ONERA recently signed a framework contract to secure an ambitious test plan from 2024 to 2028 in continuity ECOENGInE tests already carried out.