Safran Tests Radical Jet Engine Design In Switzerland

Safran has announced that it has initiated wind-tunnel tests for its "RISE" technology project, a revolutionary jet engine design intended for the next generation of medium-haul jets.

Safran, in collaboration with GE Aerospace, is testing the foundational elements of an open-bladed jet engine capable of reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 20% starting from the middle of the next decade. I Photo: General Electric

Safran, in collaboration with GE Aerospace, is testing the foundational elements of an open-bladed jet engine capable of reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 20% starting from the middle of the next decade.

Positioned as a potential successor to the "LEAP" model used on the Boeing 737 MAX and approximately half of the competing Airbus A320neo jets, "RISE" features visible fan blades and would be twice the diameter of today's comparable models, aiming for enhanced efficiency.

A crucial aspect of future certification is expected to concentrate on the safe handling of any blade failures.

The front fan, which provides the majority of the engine's thrust, would not be housed inside the conventional casing familiar to airline passengers.

A one-fifth mockup of the "Open Fan" concept, revealed to reporters on Friday, is situated inside a vast tunnel outside Modane in the French Alps and will undergo 200 hours of testing.

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