PEEBLES, OH - - General Electric Company's best-selling GEnx engine -- with already more than 575 engines ordered for three new commercial aircraft -- demonstrated 80,500 lbs. of takeoff thrust during ground testing today at GE's outdoor testing facility in Peebles, Ohio.
Ground testing on the GEnx engine began with idle runs on March 19, and then reached 80,500 lbs. of standard day sea-level takeoff thrust on March 21.
The GEnx engine is scheduled to certify at maximum takeoff thrust of 75,000 lbs. in 2007 with entry into service in 2008 on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In total, seven GEnx engines will be used in the certification program for this engine.
"It is exciting to see the GEnx come to life," said Tom Brisken, general manager of the GEnx program. "Engine assembly was flawless, and engine testing began three days ahead of schedule. We are extremely pleased with initial test results and are looking forward to validating the GEnx technology."
Built with production standard hardware, the first engine to test (FETT) is equipped with 1600 instrumentation devices that monitor the engine performance throughout the testing process. This phase of testing on the engine will verify its electric starting, operating characteristics, mechanical integrity, and performance and operability with full generator loads.
The engine's maturation program will accumulate more than 15,000 cycles by entry into service and 50,000 cycles total. With a range of thrust from 53,000 to 75,000 lbs, this GEnx engine will power all versions of the 787 Dreamliner with a common bill of material.
"We at Boeing are thrilled that General Electric has taken an important step forward today in demonstrating to the airlines of the world that it is on track with its development of the GEnx engine for the 787 Dreamliner," said Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 787 program for Boeing. "Our international team continues to make excellent progress in meeting our customers' expectations."
To date, 17 customers have placed firm orders for more than 575 GEnx engines. The engine will power the Boeing 787 and 747-8 and the Airbus A350 aircraft. The value of the engines sold is more than $7 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. 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.
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.
Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) of Japan, Avio SpA of Italy, Volvo Aero of Sweden, Techspace Aero of Belgium are revenue-sharing participants in the GEnx program.
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.