February 3, 2026
Propfan panic, comment gold
The next steps for Airbus' big bet on open rotor engines
Airbus’ open‑blade engines split the internet: planet saver or ear‑splitter
TLDR: Airbus is testing “open fan” engines that promise about 20% less fuel, with big trials planned before the late‑2030s. Comments are split between safety and noise fears versus climate wins, plus debates over comfort, long‑haul use, and whether travelers will accept exposed blades at all.
Airbus is flirting with a bold throwback: “open fan” engines—big, exposed blades that could sip up to 20% less fuel. The plan: test with partner CFM (GE + Safran) and decide by decade’s end before flying a demo on an A380. The vibe online? Equal parts eco‑hype and horror movie. One user read about extra fuselage shielding for a rare broken‑blade event and called it “sightly terrifying.” Another begged, “Won’t this be absurdly loud?” Airbus says they’re working on hush tricks at the source and how the sound travels inside the cabin, but comment sections don’t do chill.
Confusion swirled too: some thought this was just a turboprop reboot. Veterans clapped back with “everything old is new again,” noting past propfan attempts and claiming passengers are the real blockers. A resident explain‑it‑like‑I’m‑five chimed in: move a lot of air more slowly and you waste less energy—classic physics. The comfort wars lit up as folks argued Europe’s short hops vs. LA–NYC long hauls. Meanwhile, meme lords predicted “budget airlines will add a noise-cancelling fee.”
If Airbus can prove it’s quiet and safe, it could own the single‑aisle future. If not, it’s a loud lesson in nostalgia. Read more from Airbus and GE’s RISE.
Key Points
- •Airbus and CFM International are assessing open-rotor (open fan) engines for a late-2030s single-aisle aircraft, targeting around 20% fuel efficiency gains.
- •GE’s RISE program has studied open-rotor since 2021; CFM has ~2,000 engineers on the effort and ~250 tests completed, with wind-tunnel work ongoing in France and the Netherlands.
- •Open-rotor design uses exposed large composite blades and a smaller core to target a ~60:1 bypass ratio, far above today’s ~11–12:1 turbofan ratios.
- •Noise reduction and safe integration are priority goals; Airbus is evaluating engine placement options, including under-wing and rear-over-tail configurations.
- •Full-scale ground tests are planned in Ohio and Villaroche, validation in Victorville, and A380 flight tests in Toulouse before an engine decision by decade’s end.