Airbus to test radical engine design for successor to A320

[usonian]

Yeah, Radical.



FT archived.
https://archive.is/gGX1h#selection-1695.0-1695.58

Airbus is to test a radical engine with visible fan blades as the world’s largest plane maker gears up to develop a successor for its best-selling A320 family of jets.

The European aerospace and defence group said test flights of a demonstrator of the “open fan” engine would take place on a modified A380 superjumbo towards the end of this decade.

...

Airbus is working with CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace of the US and France’s Safran, on the open fan jet engine.

Mohamed Ali, chief technology and operations officer of GE Aerospace, told the Financial Times the companies were already working with regulators on issues around the new design. They included how to address higher noise levels from the open fan and any safety concerns.

I double-checked.

So check out the leadership of G.E. Aerospace now.
https://www.geaerospace.com/company/about-us/leadership

G.E. Aircraft Engine Group was my first job out of the service.

Uneventful other than cutting the shaft on an A-10 TF-34 jet engine operating at full speed with a high power laser to test the overspeed controls, and the boss dropping in on a mid-morning goof-off session of managers at a nearby restaurant. Got a chuckle out of that one.

Days of Kim-1 and MC6800 computers. My goodness.