FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW -- GE's analysis of the results of recently completed testing of the 1/5-scale blades for its open rotor engine confirms that the blades meet the acoustic standards of U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations, 14 CFR, Part 36, and the acoustic standards of Annex 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Open rotor acoustic assessment is being developed by GE in association with the Subsonic Fixed Wing (SFW) project and Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 

In addition, French engine manufacturer Snecma (SAFRAN Group), a 50/50 partner with GE in the CFM engine program, is also a partner in GE's open rotor engine program. 

GE's open rotor engine research is part of the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) program initiated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accelerate the development and maturation of aircraft and engine technologies that reduce noise and emissions and improve fuel burn. 

The acoustic testing was conducted in the low-speed wind tunnel at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. 

The blades will next undergo aero performance testing in the Glenn Research Center high-speed wind tunnel, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2011. 

The generation-one blades include five distinctly different sets of forward and aft blades, all designed through the use of three-dimensional aerodynamic (3D aero) design technology to realize the configuration that offers optimum acoustic and performance efficiency. 

In addition, two sets of generation-two blades are currently being designed, with fabrication scheduled to begin in early 2011. 

GE expects the final-configuration variable-speed, variable-pitch rotor blades to enable a double-digit reduction in fuel burn, compared with the fuel burn of an advanced turbofan engine and is maturing the critical technologies to meet that goal. 

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.