Generation Equipment Research Flight Trial (GENEQUIP)

The NASA sponsored X66 Flight Trial will receive $425M over its 7 years. Boeing and its partners will be investing $725M overall, most of it to address the new trussed high wing configuration and the installation of the modified P&W Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine. Boeing are taking the opportunity of this Flight Trial to prove the efficacy of Safran's new technology for aircraft electrical power systems -- featuring a high efficiency capability for the conversion of mechanical energy from the engine into the aircraft electrical network. Safran were announced as the supply of this equipment at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2024, with the Flight Trial itself slated for 2029\. This is the GENEQUIP project -- GENEration EQUIPment Research Flight Trial. GENEQUIP will mature, test and validate new high efficiency electrical power generation technology, through to aircraft system integration -- providing prototype hardware on the Flight Test campaign with NASA and Boeing. The University of Bristol will be partnering with Safran on GENEQUIP. Safran have a strong and long-standing research collaborative relationship with Bristol, and have established an Aerospace URC (University Research Centre), focussing on the exact areas and topics that underpin high efficiency. Bristol have proved themselves to be masters at the diverse technology strands to improve performance and take out weight -- whilst maintaining reliability. They have extensive capabilities on the research of complete drive systems, of which Safran's electrical Generation Channels are a prime example. Bristol's contribution with a Digital Twin will add a distinctive new aspect to the Safran capability. Use of such advanced modelling will match the ways of working of some of the airframer teams and will add to the attractiveness of the Safran technologies. The X66 is an important project for UK industry -- and will help position Safran and its supply base, both academic research and high tech manufacturing, to address the efficiency improvements needed by the world's aviation fleet, and support the global sustainability and decarbonisation agenda. Boeing will be part-funded by the X66 programme sponsors, NASA. Safran and Bristol are seeking part funding from Innovate UK on this key industrial research, which is also aligned with the UK Government's strategic investment roadmaps for high technology aviation, which are overseen by the UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the Dept for Business and Trade (DBT).