Engines
Snecma Tests Scale Model of Open-rotor Engine
Snecma is preparing a high-speed test to demonstrate the open rotor’s fuel-burn advantage.
Snecma is preparing a high-speed test to demonstrate the open rotor’s fuel-burn advantage.

Snecma plans soon to start another phase of open-rotor engine testing using a one-fifth scale model, in a research and technology effort that epitomizes how laborious developing a new commercial engine concept can be. The concept, based on contra-rotating high-speed propellers, may not find itself in service before 2025. Nevertheless, trials aimed at cutting noise while retaining the huge efficiency advantage of the open rotor’s architecture are well under way.