GE Begins Testing the World’s Largest Jet Engine

GE begins testing of one of the world’s largest commercial aircraft engines.

(photo: GE Aviation)

Ground testing is underway on the first full GE9X development engine at GE Aviation’s Peebles Testing Operation in Ohio. This engine will power Boeing’s new 777X aircraft.

“The entire GE9X team—from engineering to sourcing to supply chain to development assembly—devoted countless hours to enable this achievement to occur,” said Bill Millhaem, general manager of the GE90/GE9X engine programs at GE Aviation. “The ground testing will generate data on the full engine system and aerodynamic performance, mechanical verification, and aero thermal system validation.”

Testing of this engine began about five years ago and has progressed to the first full engine to test (FETT).

This next year will be a busy one for the program with the start of certification testing and flight testing on GE Aviation’s flying test bed with the engine certification anticipated in 2018.

GE tests the new design for the GE9X carbon fiber blades (Photo: GE Aviation)

The GE9X engine will be in the 100,000 pound thrust class and will have the largest front fan at 134 inches in diameter with a composite fan case and 16 fourth generation carbon fiber composite fan blades. Other key features include: a next-generation 27:1 pressure-ratio 11-stage high-pressure compressor; a third-generation TAPS III combustor for high efficiency and low emissions; and CMC material in the combustor and turbine.

www.geaviation.com