Airbus has moved a former Malaysia Airlines A380, MSN114, from Shannon to Toulouse and repainted it as a Flightlab for work on future propulsion systems. The aircraft is set to carry a CFM RISE open-fan test engine on the inner left wing, replacing the Rolls-Royce Trent 970, as Airbus uses the superjumbo to prepare technologies for a possible A320neo successor.
The aircraft arrived in Toulouse on 21 August and still needs substantial modification before flight testing can begin, including new wiring, sensors and structural changes. Airbus plans to use the platform to study engine selection and other technologies relevant to the next single-aisle programme. The open-fan concept is being developed around a fuel-burn improvement of about 20% versus current-generation engines.
It is not yet clear whether the jet will regain its original Airbus test registration, F-WWSG. The choice of an A380 for the programme underlines the scale of the installation work needed for the engine trial and the importance Airbus is placing on de-risking propulsion choices for its future narrowbody aircraft.