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GE's GEnx Engine Performs Well During Certification Testing

September 23, 2009

BEIJING -- GE Aviation's new GEnx-2B engine is performing well during engine certification testing. The engine, which will power Boeing's new 747-8 aircraft, has accumulated more than 1500 hours and 1900 cycles during ground testing and more than 150 hours during 29 flight tests on GE's 747 flying testbed. 

"We are very pleased with the performance of the GEnx-2B engine during ground and initial flight tests," said Tom Brisken, general manager of the GEnx program. "We look forward to watching the GEnx-powered Boeing 747-8 aircraft take its first flight, ushering in a new era of improved aircraft efficiency." 

Optimized for the Boeing 747-8 aircraft, the GEnx-2B engine shares a common core and 80 percent of the line-replaceable units with the GEnx-1B, which will power Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. The GEnx is the fastest selling engine in GE's history with more than 1,200 engines on order. 

The GEnx engine will have a significant presence in China once it enters service. Four Chinese airlines have selected the GEnx-1B engine to power their 787 fleets. These airlines are China Eastern Airlines (15 aircraft), China Southern (10 aircraft), Hainan Airlines (8 aircraft) and Shanghai Airlines (9 aircraft). Each airline has also signed GE Aviation's OnPoint solution agreements for the maintenance, overhaul and repair of their GEnx engines. 

Based on the proven architecture of the GE90, the GEnx engine will succeed GE's CF6 engine. Compared to the CF6 engine, the GEnx engine will offer 15 percent improved fuel efficiency, which translates to 15 percent less CO2. The engine achieves these improvements with aerodynamic advancements that enable higher pressures and improved energy extraction from a more compact core architecture that has significantly fewer parts. 

The GEnx's innovative twin-annular pre-swirl, TAPS, combustor will dramatically reduce NOx gases as much as 60 percent below today's regulatory limits and other regulated gases as much as 90 percent. Based on the ratio of decibels to pounds of thrust, the GEnx will be the quietest engine GE has produced due to the large, more efficient fan blades that operate at a slower tip speed, resulting in about 30 percent lower noise levels. The GEnx will be the world's only jet engine with both a front fan case and fan blades made of carbon fiber composites. Using the same material on the fan case and fan blades enables more precise thermal matching, further enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. Learn more about the GEnx engine by visiting: http://www.ge.com/news/genx_video.html. 

IHI of Japan, Avio SpA. of Italy, Volvo Aero of Sweden, MTU of Germany, TechSpace Aero of Belgium, Snecma (SAFRAN Group) of France and Samsung Techwin of Korea are revenue-sharing participants in the GEnx program. 

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 a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as avionics, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.