The TAKE OFF (Technology And Knowledge for European Open Fan Flight) project, funded under the European Union’s research and innovation programme Clean Aviation, was officially kicked-off with the ambition to bring the first Open Fan engine to flight. As the consortium leader, Safran Aircraft Engines will coordinate development efforts among 25 partners, bringing together European industry leaders—including Airbus, Avio Aero, and GKN Aerospace—with top universities and research centers.
The TAKE OFF project has been granted a €100 million funding from the Clean Aviation public-private partnership to prepare for the first flight demonstration of an Open Fan engine architecture by the end of the decade. Building on the Clean Aviation OFELIA (Open Fan for Environmental Low Impact of Aviation) project results, TAKE OFF aims at pushing the technologies forward for the Open Fan engine architecture. This architecture was unveiled in 2021 as part of the CFM RISE technology demonstration program: the target is to achieve a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency for next-generation engines starting from mid-next decade.
“TAKE OFF embodies the European Union and aerospace industry’s shared ambition to make aviation more sustainable,” said Pierre Cottenceau, Vice President, Engineering, Research & Technology at Safran Aircraft Engines. “We’re proud to partner with leading industry players on this pivotal project shaping our sector’s future. Project synergies will pave the way for a full-scale Open Fan engine flight demonstration, showcasing the competitive benefits of such architecture in terms of energy efficiency and acoustic performances.”
The TAKE OFF project spans every stage — from demonstrator engine assembly and aircraft integration to flight clearance and comprehensive post-flight analysis. The project will culminate in an Airbus A380 flight demonstration, targeting technological maturity equivalent to a pre-development configuration. These efforts will be conducted in synergy with the results of the COMPANION (Common Platform and Advanced Instrumentation Readiness for Ultra Efficient Propulsion) project led by Airbus.
“The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is excited to launch this flagship action for the programme and notably for the short/medium-range aircraft thrust” said María Calvo, Head of Unit Project Management at Clean Aviation. “Building on the good results shown with OFELIA and COMPANION, TAKE OFF must now demonstrate the viability of the disruptive Open Fan engine concept at a higher maturity level, in line with the flight test campaign expected for 2029.”
As part of Clean Aviation’s roadmap for ultra-efficient short/medium-range aircraft, TAKE OFF will provide flight-proven demonstration for this propulsion technology — guiding engine design and mitigating industrial investment risks.
