Published on 21st July 2026 on the CFM news site
At Farnborough International Airshow, Airbus and CFM International (CFM) showcased the new livery design of the A380 flight lab which will support the CFM RISE Open Fan flight test campaign by the end of the decade.
Flight tests are expected to confirm the technology readiness of Open Fan for future commercial aviation applications, part of CFM’s comprehensive RISE technology demonstration program. Open Fan is a jet engine design that removes the traditional casing, allowing for a larger fan size with less drag to improve durability and fuel efficiency.
Engineering teams from Airbus and CFM are actively advancing aircraft and engine integration, recently completing the first conceptual flight test design review.
As the program moves closer to flight testing, collaboration between Airbus and CFM remains key to bringing this breakthrough technology from concept to reality.