SEATTLE, Washington - Nippon Cargo Airlines has taken delivery of its first GE CF6-80C2 engines incorporating a new, high-pressure turbine upgrade.
The turbine upgrade, part of GE's new Tech CF6 program, was installed in engines for the airline's new Boeing 747-400F aircraft. Nippon Cargo ordered 10 747-400F aircraft, and the seventh was delivered today. The remaining three will be delivered between now and February 2009.
Nippon Cargo Airlines is a long-standing CF6 customer and a launch customer for the GEnx-powered Boeing 747-8 aircraft as well," says Colleen Athans, general manager of the CF6 Project at GE. "The Tech CF6 upgrade results from GE's continuing R&D investments and our commitment to infusing the latest technology into our existing engine lines."
Nippon Cargo Airlines has built a reputation for safe, fast and reliable performance. The airline currently serves 20 major cities through Asia, Europe, and North America. Nippon Cargo Airlines currently operates six CF6-80C2-powered Boeing 747-400F aircraft and has also ordered eight firm Boeing 747-8 Freighters plus 6 options, powered by GE's GEnx engine.
GE's CF6 engines have been among the most utilized and reliable in the industry. Powering more than 10 models of wide-body aircraft, the engine has established an unparalleled record of reliability and compiled more than 300 million flight-hours in service with more than 250 customers worldwide.
In 2006, GE launched the Tech CF6 program to incorporate advanced technology into the high-pressure turbine (HPT), combustor and high-pressure compressor (HPC) areas. The new HPT technologies, now standard on CF6-80C2 production engines and available as an upgrade, include airfoil-cooling advancements to enhance operational reliability and improve fuel burn retention. The combustor and HPC advancements are available as an upgrade option to incorporate into existing CF6-80C2 fleets.