EVENDALE, OH - General Electric Company has finalized the architectural design for the GEnx engine that will power Boeing's recently launched 747-8 Intercontinental and freighter aircraft. 



The completion of this key milestone, referred to as "Tollgate 6" in GE's New Product Introduction nomenclature, begins the detailed design phase of the engine, which is the sole powerplant for the new Boeing 747-8 aircraft. 



Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) ordered up to 34 747-8 freighters. Cargolux ordered 10 firm, 10 option freighters and NCA ordered eight firm, six option freighters. Deliveries will begin in 2009. 



"The GEnx engine for the 747-8 aircraft will contain the same technology advancements - such as the composite fan case and fan blades and the TAPS (twin-annular, pre-swirler) combustor system -that are in the GEnx engine for Boeing's 787 aircraft," said Tom Brisken, general manager of the GEnx program. "We are just re-sizing the engine and its components to meet the airframe and thrust requirements of the 747-8 aircraft." 



"Boeing is pleased by the successful completion of this milestone in the development of the GEnx for the 747-8," said Jeff Peace, vice president - program manager, 747-8 Program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are excited about this step by the GE/Boeing partnership in providing new technologies for the 747 that add value for our airline customers." 



The front fan for the GEnx engine on the 747-8 aircraft will be 105" in diameter compared to 111" for the 787 aircraft. The engine will be rated at 66,500 pounds of thrust for this application. Certification testing will begin next year with flight-testing aboard the new 747-8 scheduled for late 2008. 



The GEnx is based on the highly successful GE90 architecture. It will succeed GE's CF6 engine family, which is the most reliable and best-selling engine on wide-body aircraft. It provides significantly better specific fuel consumption and payload performance than GE's CF6 engines. 



The GEnx engine is the world's only jet engine with both a front fan case and fan blades made of composites, which provide for greater engine durability, weight reduction and lower operating costs. The fan blades will utilize GE90 composite technology that has performed well, with no routine on-wing maintenance required and no in-service issue for more than a decade. The GEnx will operate with 18 fan blades (50 percent fewer than the CF6) at noise levels lower than any large GE commercial engine. The GEnx also features a new combustor for efficient fuel mixing before ignition, resulting in significantly lower oxides of nitrogen (Nox) levels.