Ground testing is underway on the first full GE9X development engine at GE Aviation’s Peebles Testing Operation in Ohio, USA. The GE9X engine will power Boeing’s new 777X aircraft and is the world’s largest commercial aircraft engine.
Ground testing will generate data on the full engine system and aerodynamic performance, mechanical verification and aero thermal system validation, says GE Aviation.
Maturation testing of the GE9X engine began approximately five years ago and has progressed from component-level all the way to the first full engine to test (FETT). FETT brings all the GE9X technologies together to demonstrate their operability as a complete propulsion system.
Compared to other engine programs, the GE9X FETT occurred earlier in the development process, just six months after the engine design was finalized. This timing assures all lessons from FETT will be captured in the certification engines.
Next year will be a busy year for the GE9X program with the start of certification testing and flight testing on GE Aviation’s flying testbed. Engine certification is anticipated in 2018.
Click here for a video of the GE9X ground testing.
April 15, 2016
