Newsweek
General Electric: ‘World’s Largest’ Jet Engine Takes to the Sky in U.S. Test Flight
Jason Murdock,Newsweek 16 hours ago
General Electric has revealed that the “world’s largest” jet engine, set to power Boeing’s new 777X aircraft, completed its first test flight this week.
The GE9X engine took to the sky at around 10:40 am (PST) from Victorville, California on March 13 and flew for more than four hours under the wing of a Boeing 747. The current testing phase is expected to last several months.
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According to General Electric, the aircraft and engine both completed an entire test card and “validated key operational and functional characteristics.” That will be a relief to the company after a set of prior test flights, previously penned for last December, were halted after engineers found technical issues with the engine.
Three months later, a company spokesperson told Reuters that officials are “very confident” that its target date for safety certification—2019—is still feasible.
Certification testing of the GE9X engine initially began in May 2017. Beyond flight trials, the engine recently completed icing tests at GE Aviation’s facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and is continuing “crosswind testing” in Ohio.
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GE said there are almost 700 GE9X engines currently on order. When completed, it will reportedly be in the 100,000-pound thrust class (GE says a space shuttle’s main engine produces 375,000 pounds) and will boast the largest-ever front fan.
Other participants in the program include IHI Corporation, Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Aero Boosters and MTU Aero Engines AG, the U.S. conglomerate said.
“The GE9X and Victorville teams have spent months preparing for flight testing of the engine, and their efforts paid off today with a picture-perfect first flight,” commented Ted Ingling, general manager of the GE9X program at GE Aviation, on Wednesday. “Today’s flight starts the beginning of the GE9X flight test campaign that will last for several months, allowing us to accumulate data on how the engine performs at altitude and during various phases of flight,” he added.
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According to Boeing’s website, the 777X will be “the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world” and will build upon the lessons learned from prior models, the 777 and 787. The aircraft is expected to enter official service in 2020.
