Engines
GE to test open-rotor fan engine
GE Aviation and NASA are to ground test five sets of new subscale blades for open-rotor engines at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

GE Aviation and NASA are to ground test five sets of new subscale blades for open-rotor engines at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The tests will focus on acoustics and efficiency of a two-stage counter-rotating fan. The two partners have high expectations that new analysis tools will add to their understanding of the fan’s aerodynamics.

Testing will start this summer and last until early 2010. With 12 blades on the front row and 10 blades on the second row, the one-fifth scale system will be tested in two wind tunnels. The low-speed wind tunnel will simulate flight at low altitude and will help acoustic evaluation. The high-speed wind tunnel will rather simulate high-altitude cruise conditions. Blade efficiency and performance will be tested there.