PATUXENT NAVAL AIR TEST CENTER, Maryland - The F414-GE-400 engine, designated a "model development program" by the U.S. Navy, has met or surpassed expectations for engine thrust, reliability, and responsiveness while accumulating more than 1170 flight hours in the Navy's F/A-18E/F flight test program.
To date, a total of 32 F414 engines have accumulated more than 12,000 test hours. In addition to the more than 1170 flight hours on 18 flight test engines, approximately 8700 hours of ground testing was conducted with 11 development engines, and 2100 hours of factory and ground testing was conducted with 21 flight test engines.
The F414 engine development program is now more than 90 percent complete, with delivery of the first production engines scheduled to begin in mid-1998.
"GE is right on track, consistently meeting requirements on schedule," said George Bolln, general manager of the F414 Project Department of GE Aircraft Engines.
U.S. Navy plans call for the production of 2300 engines through the year 2017. In addition, the F414 is being evaluated as a potential export fighter engine for service beyond the year 2000.
The F414, with a 9 to 1 thrust-to-weight ratio, is rated at 22,000 pounds (98 kN) thrust, 35 percent more than the thrust of GE's highly successful F404 engine. The F414's fan, with 16 percent greater airflow than the F404, includes removable first stage blades. The tandem-bladed disk (blisk) design of the second and third stages reduces both weight and cost, improves performance, and facilitates maintenance. The core, adapted from the GE23A technology demonstrator engine, includes a blisk design in the first three compressor stages and a high pressure turbine design from the F412 program. The durable afterburner features a radial flameholder, with improved cooling and maintainability, derived from the YF120 engine.