Airbus to use A380 as a flying ZEROe testbed

Airbus has announced it has signed a partnership agreement with CFM International to work together on a hydrogen demonstration programme, as part of its ZEROe-initiative. ZEROe stands for zero-emission flight and the initiative was launched in September 2020 with the aim to develop new, more sustainable, commercial aircraft for entry into commercial service by 2035.

The demonstration programme will be using an Airbus A380, most likely F-WWOW (001), which will be equipped with liquid hydrogen tanks and expects the testbed to fly around 2025-2026.

CFM, which is a joint-venture between General Electric and Safran Engines, will modify the combustor, fuel system, and control system of a GE Passport turbofan to run on hydrogen. It will be mounted along the rear fuselage of the flying testbed to allow engine emissions, including contrails, to be monitored separately from those of the engines powering the aircraft. CFM will execute an extensive ground test program ahead of the A380 flight test.

Illustration by Airbus.