industry
Airbus preps first A380 to test CFM open fan engine
The very first Airbus A380 ever manufactured is getting a second life as a flying testbed for a radical new propulsion system. Airbus is teaming up with engine maker CFM to evaluate an open-fan powerplant design, utilizing the superjumbo for its ample cabin volume and four-engine redundancy. Engineers will mount the futuristic engine on the massive double-decker to gather critical in-flight performance data. This matters to the aviation community because open-fan architecture could drastically reduce fuel burn and reshape the aircraft designs tomorrow's commercial aviators will fly.