Project description
Advanced demonstrator for ultra-efficient propulsion systems
The EU-funded COMPANION project plans to create a common flight test demonstrator platform to validate ultra-efficient propulsion systems developed in the Clean Aviation Call#01 projects. The objective is to prepare and deliver the hardware of the flight test platform by June 2026. This platform will be based on an Airbus A380 aircraft, modified to accommodate ultra-efficient propulsion systems like an open-rotor test engine and a hybrid electric ultra-high bypass turbofan.
Objective
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The purpose of the COMPANION project is to define, design and prepare a common flight test demonstrator platform to enable the validation of ultra-efficient propulsion systems developed in Clean Aviation Call#01 projects at full scale and in a wide envelope of realistic operational conditions.
Given the clear requirement in the roadmap planning of the CA projects OFELIA and SWITCH for flight test demonstrations in Clean Aviation Phase 2 to achieve TRL 6 before the end of the program in 2030, a corresponding platform must be prepared to be available before the end of year 2026.
The project targets to prepare and deliver the hardware of the flight test platform ready for engine installation by the end of June 2026. The flight clearance process will be opened in COMPANION, but will need to continue with the installation of the demonstrator engines in follow-up projects to be defined at the end of CA Phase 1.
The project plan proposes to prepare a common flight test demonstrator platform on the basis of an Airbus A380 aircraft with one of the inboard engine pylons modified to accommodate versatile ultra-efficient proposal systems which are currently under development for a Clean Aviation Short Range and Short and Medium Range concept aircraft, namely an Open Rotor test engine and a hybrid electric Ultra High ByPass Turbofan. The flight test aircraft will be fully equipped to host a diversity of standard and special flight test instrumentation that will be defined in close cooperation with the projects OFELIA and SWITCH to provide all data required to quantify the performance of the demonstrator engines under operational conditions. The test aircraft allows the demonstrator engines to operate on conventional kerosene and SAF fuel at blending rates of up to 100%.
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Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsliquid fuels
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
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Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation ActionsCoordinator
31060 Toulouse
France