PARIS, France - The newest CF6 variant, the CF6-80C2B8F, is undergoing final preparations at the Boeing Company in anticipation of powering September's first flight of the Boeing 767-400ER.

The CF6-80C2B8F demonstrates a thrust increase of more than two percent than its highest-thrust predecessor, the -80C2B7F.

Using revolutionary turbine architecture developed for GE Aircraft Engines' ultra-high-bypass GE90 turbofan engine, the -B8F incorporates a new high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor constructed of Rene 88 (R88), a state-of-the-art material designed to increase parts life by as much as one-third. In addition, the -B8F HPT demonstrates outstanding blade cooling characteristics which, coupled with the R88 structure, significantly increase customer value through enhanced durability and longer time on-wing. The -B8F turbine module is interchangeable with the turbine modules of all current CF6-80C2 variants and is targeted for certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the CF6-80E1 in 2000.

The first CF6-80C2B8F engines with the R88 turbine completed thorough ground acceptance tests at GE's Peebles Test Operation. Certified by the FAA in March 1999, the -80C2B8F-powered 767-400ER is scheduled to enter service in May 2000, and July 2000 with launch customers Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines respectively.

The CF6-80C2B8F enters the world's most reliable family of aircraft engines. The engine of choice of more than 150 customers, the CF6 family enjoys a dispatch reliability rate of 99.94 percent and a basic in-flight shutdown rate of 0.008 after more than 180 million flight hours.

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) is a world leader in the design, production, and support of jet engines for commercial and military aircraft, and marine and industrial applications. GEAE has a long tradition of technological excellence, with more than 50,000 engines in service and more than 300 million flight hours of experience. GEAE has also been an industry leader in developing strategic global partnerships. The CFM56 high bypass engine, produced by CFM International, the 50/50 joint company of Snecma of France and General Electric, is the best-selling jet engine in the world. GEAE also includes GE Engine Services, Inc., the world's largest integrated engine maintenance resource, which overhauls, repairs, and maintains engines produced by GEAE and CFM, as well as engines produced by other manufacturers.