With a 134-inch diameter front fan, GE Aviation’s GE9X engine for Boeing’s 777X aircraft will be the world’s largest engine—besting the current world’s largest engine, the GE90, by a full six inches. To test an engine this size, GE Aviation invested about $10 million at its Testing Operation in Peebles. Part of this investment includes the design and manufacture of the largest testing bellmouth inlet duct, which measures a whopping 18 feet in diameter and 15 feet long. This superload from Lansing, Michigan traveled on several major interstates and highways in Greater Cincinnati on its way to Peebles on March 4.

In addition to the bellmouth inlet, the Peebles facility added a fourth fuel tank, upgraded engine hoists and transporters and modified a wall to accommodate the new GE9X engine.

With almost 700 GE9X engines on order, the GE9X engine will be in the 100,000 pound thrust class and will be the largest engine ever produced with a 134-inch diameter 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.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, integrated digital, avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings and is part of the world’s Digital Industrial Company with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation.

This superload from Lansing, Michigan traveled on several major interstates and highways in Greater Cincinnati on its way to Peebles on March 4.
https://www.peoplesdefender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_GE.jpgThis superload from Lansing, Michigan traveled on several major interstates and highways in Greater Cincinnati on its way to Peebles on March 4. Photo courtesy of GE Aviation

Staff Report