FARNBOROUGH -- With more than 300 million hours of operating experience and infusion of new technology for added life and durability, General Electric Company's CF6 military engine family is enjoying widespread success in the tanker-transport, refueling and VIP communities.
KC-45: CF6-80E1 engines (72,000 lbs/320 kN thrust) will power Northrop Grumman KC-45A aircraft, which was selected in February by the United States Air Force (USAF) for its tanker replacement program. The program calls for 179 tankers in the first of three phases to replace the USAF tanker fleet.
C-5 RERP: The C-5M Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program reached a major milestone in May when it received a Lot 1 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract from Lockheed Martin for the first four propulsion systems. Deliveries of CF6-80C2 engines (63,500lbs/282 kN thrust) are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009. The Lot 1 award is based on the successful execution of the flight-test program under the System Development and Demonstration phase, which verifies engine capability, operability and integration aboard C-5M aircraft. The Lot 2 LRIP contract for the next 12 propulsion systems is expected later this year. More than 200 engines are expected to be delivered for 52 C-5M aircraft through 2015.
International: Interest in the CF6 continues to grow internationally. The Royal Saudi Air Force recently selected the GE CF6-80E1 engine to power three Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, joining the Royal Australian Air Force in selecting GE power. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2009.
The A330 MRTT is being offered to several international military customers, including India, Korea, Oman and Turkey. The CF6-80C2 was selected to power the 767 tankers for Italy and Japan.
Technology programs: GE launched the Tech CF6 program to incorporate advanced technology into the high-pressure turbine (HPT), combustor and high-pressure compressor (HPC) areas. These upgrades incorporate proven materials, coatings, and design technologies that will improve fuel burn retention and reliability, plus lower the cost of ownership. The upgrade kits have now entered commercial revenue service and the advancements in the HPT are standard on CF6-80C2 and CF6-80E1 new production engines.
GE has also been selected to develop technology for the Highly Efficient Embedded Turbine Engine (HEETE) program, which focuses on greatly increasing the fuel efficiency and range of future mobility aircraft. The program has the potential to provide technology and architecture for GE's next-generation high-bypass turbofan engines.
GE's CF6 engines have been among the most utilized and reliable in the industry. Powering more than 10 models of wide-body aircraft, the engine has established an unparalleled record of reliability with more than 250 customers worldwide. GE and CFM56* engines currently power more than 80% of the U.S. Air Force tanker fleet. American Airlines recently set a time-on-wing record for the CF6-80C2 engine, logging more than 40,000 hours and nearly 10 years of continuous on-wing operation on a Boeing 767 aircraft. Last year, CF6-80E1 engines completed one million takeoffs/landings, or cycles--a significant milestone in an engine's life.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.
* CFM and CFM56 are trademarks of CFM International, a joint company of Snecma, France, and General Electric Co., USA