ORLANDO, Florida - The first round of component testing of GE Aircraft Engines' (GEAE) full-scale fan rotor for the CF34-8C turbofan engine is underway at the European Gas Turbine (EGT) facility in Whetstone, England.

One-and-one-half pound bird strike tests will be conducted on two -8C wide-chord fan blade configurations to determine the design that achieves the optimum balance of performance efficiency and blade strength. The tests are being conducted at the maximum fan rotor speed of 7,360 rpm in the same EGT vacuum chamber used during development of the GE90 engine for the Boeing 777.

"Although it's still very early in the component test phase of -8C development, we're extremely pleased with the rapid progress we're making," said Lloyd Thompson general manager of GEAE's Small Commercial Turbofan Engine Programs. "Very shortly we'll be moving on to the final stages of our fan tests, which will include blade-out loads, containment, and large bird strike testing for FAA certification. By the end of 1996, we will have accumulated approximately 275 component test-rig hours on the -8C's fan, compressor, low pressure turbine and combustor."

The CF34-8C is a 13,000-pound-thrust-class growth version of GEAE's highly successful CF34 family of engines that power Canadair's Challenger 601/604 corporate jets and the 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jet. The CF34-8C was selected in February 1995 to power the 70-passenger Canadair CRJ-X and is on schedule for FAA certification in the second quarter of 1999.