22 November 2019: It's a history in the making with the world's most powerful engine GE9X all set for a lift off. Recently four fully compliant GE9X engines were delivered to Boeing's wide body plant in Everett, Washington.
Ted Ingling, general manager for the GE9X engine program said," the Guinness-World-Record-setting powerhouse passed recent in-house testing. GE halted production earlier this summer after detecting a durability issue causing premature deterioration on a static component in the high-pressure compressor. GE engineers ruggedized the component without changing any of the aerodynamics of the design. This improved durability while also allowing GE to retain the engine's performance and operational characteristics".
Some of the salient features of GE 9X engine are -
1.The front fan of the engine is a full 11 feet in diameter and is as wide as the body of an entire Boeing 737.
2.It uses the fourth generation of carbon-fibre composite fan blades originally developed for the GE90
3.It holds parts made from the latest materials like light and heat-resistant ceramic matrix composites, and components made by advanced manufacturing technologies like 3D printing
4.It has clocked 134,300 pounds of thrust during a test run in 2017
5.GE has received orders for more than 700 GE9X engines.
The behemoth was unveiled earlier this year at Paris Air Show. Ingling said "The ceramics allowed us to go to 60:1 [pressure ratio] inside the GE9X," As result, the GE9X engine is not dramatically larger than engines in the GE90 family, even though it's much more efficient."
Up until now, GE has built 10 compliant engines, eight of which will go on a flying test airplanes, along with two spares, for Boeing. "The remaining compliance engines and spares with the incorporated fix are on schedule to be delivered to Boeing by the end of this year", GE Aviation said.
Once the final installation work and on-wing testing is done, the first 777X will make its first flight, scheduled for the first quarter of next year. Boeing is planning for the airplane's certification in early 2021.
Ingling said," New technologies and materials help make the engine 10% more fuel-efficient that its predecessor. This is a big deal, given that fuel costs amount to as much as 20% of an airline's operating expenses on average. "The technologies I've worked on are out of this world," he said. "I never have a dull moment."