FARNBOROUGH -- The GEnx engine continues to accumulate outstanding performance results during its development testing.
The FETT (first engine to test) occurred in March with the GEnx engine reaching 80,500 pounds (358 kN) of standard day sea-level takeoff thrust in the first two days of testing. The engine completed its first phase of testing in May and accumulated more than 100 hours and more than 145 starts, including single Variable Frequency Starter Generator starts well within Boeing's 787 requirements. This engine is currently being re-built for additional testing that will begin this month.
The first of two full-scale composite fan case/fan blade-out rig tests was completed in May. A production fan disk, composite fan blades and composite fan case were used. The highly successful test showed the composite fan case contained the released blade. A second full-scale fan blade-out rig test is scheduled for later this year, using a complete production fan module and flight inlet. The full-engine fan blade-out test for certification is scheduled for next year.
The second GEnx development engine began testing last month at GE's outdoor test facility near Peebles, Ohio. The engine will undergo detailed emission and acoustic assessments, operability testing and cyclic endurance testing. The third GEnx engine will start testing this month for vibration endurance certification. By the end of the year, seven GEnx engines will go to test.
The GEnx engine is scheduled to certify at maximum takeoff thrust of 75,000 pounds (334 kN) in 2007, with entry into service in 2008 on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. By entry into service, the engine's maturation program will accumulate more than 15,000 cycles, and a total of 50,000 cycles before the first scheduled shop visit.
With almost 600 engines on firm order from 17 customers, the GEnx is GE's best-selling commercial aircraft engine on new long-range, wide-body aircraft. The value of the engines sold is more than $8 billion.
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. The GEnx provides significantly better specific fuel consumption and payload performance than the CF6.
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 issues 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 other large GE commercial engine. The GEnx also features a new combustor for efficient fuel mixing prior to ignition, resulting in significantly lower oxides of nitrogen (NOx) levels.
The GEnx is part of GE's "ecomagination" product portfolio--GE's commitment to develop new, cost-effective technologies that enhance customers' environmental and operating performance.
GE - Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE also is a world-leading provider of maintenance and support services for jet engines.