Airbus and CFM International have unveiled a new A380 Flight Lab livery at the Farnborough International Airshow, as the aircraft prepares to support the RISE Open Fan flight test campaign later this decade. The painted Airbus A380 is being positioned as a flying testbed for the next phase of open-fan propulsion development.
The A380 Flight Lab will be used to help validate the Open Fan engine architecture that CFM is developing with GE Aerospace and Safran through the 50/50 joint venture behind the RISE programme. The campaign is intended to advance flight testing of a propulsion concept designed to reduce fuel burn and emissions compared with today’s engines.
The aircraft involved is the first A380 ever built and has been repurposed from storage into a flying laboratory for engine-testing work. The livery reveal provides a visible sign that the programme is moving further into flight-test preparation after conceptual design review work.