ELIGIO RE FRASCHINI SPA

Their core work

Eligio Re Fraschini is an Italian industrial company specializing in experimental aeroacoustics and aerodynamic testing for aviation propulsion systems. Their core contribution to research consortia is wind tunnel experimentation — physically testing propeller and distributed electric propulsion configurations to measure noise signatures and aerodynamic performance. They operate within the Clean Sky 2 ecosystem, Europe's flagship aviation R&D program, where they serve as the experimental validation arm for propulsion noise reduction research. Their work bridges the gap between computational models and real-world propulsion data, providing the physical test evidence that certification and design decisions depend on.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 work (ERaCLE, 2018), Re Fraschini focused on conventional pushing propeller engine configurations tested through wind tunnel experiments — a foundational, measurement-oriented role with no specialized keyword focus on record. By 2020 (VENUS), their work had shifted toward distributed electric propulsion and its specific noise profile, reflecting the broader Clean Sky 2 pivot from combustion propulsion toward electrified aviation. The trajectory is consistent: from testing legacy propeller geometries to characterizing the acoustic behavior of emerging electric propulsion architectures.

Re Fraschini is moving deeper into electrified aviation propulsion, positioning themselves as an experimental resource for DEP noise characterization — a capability that will be in high demand as the aviation industry accelerates its electrification roadmap toward urban air mobility and next-generation regional aircraft.

How they like to work

Re Fraschini consistently joins consortia as a participant rather than leading them, suggesting they contribute specialized experimental infrastructure — most likely wind tunnel facilities — rather than project management or concept development. Their network is notably small (4 unique partners across 2 countries), pointing to a focused, recurring partnership model within a specific segment of the Clean Sky 2 community. This makes them a reliable specialist contributor: predictable, technically focused, and unlikely to compete for project leadership.

Re Fraschini has worked with just 4 unique partners across 2 countries, reflecting a tight, specialized network within the European aviation R&D community. Their partnerships appear concentrated inside the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking ecosystem rather than spanning broader EU research networks.

What sets them apart

Re Fraschini brings hands-on experimental capability — wind tunnel testing — to aviation propulsion consortia at a time when computational simulation dominates but physical validation remains essential for certification and design sign-off. As a private industrial company rather than a university or public lab, they offer industrial-grade testing credibility that carries weight in Clean Sky 2 validation workflows. Their dual participation in both conventional propeller and distributed electric propulsion programs gives them a rare comparative dataset bridging legacy and next-generation aviation architectures.

Highlights from their portfolio

• VENUS
  The largest-funded project (EUR 422,625) and the one that defines Re Fraschini's emerging identity in distributed electric propulsion noise — a high-priority topic for urban air mobility and next-generation regional electric aircraft.
• ERaCLE
  Their debut H2020 project establishing credibility in wind tunnel testing of pushing propeller configurations under Clean Sky 2, which served as the foundation for the more advanced VENUS work.