GE Aerospace has delivered its 3,000th GE90 production engine.
“Not many would have believed that we’d come close to this 3,000-engine milestone during the early years of the GE90 program,” said Nate Hoening, GE90 program manager for GE Aerospace. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Boeing, our GE90 customers around the world, and all of the dedicated workers who have made this marvel of an engine one of aviation’s great success stories.”
Designed specifically for the Boeing 777 family, the GE90 engine family has combined for nearly 130 million fight hours and 18 million cycles since entry into service in 1995. Currently, 29 GE90 engines have accumulated more than 100,000 flying hours, with the fleet leaders approaching 107,000 hours and 19,000 cycles.
The production totals include 408 base engines (GE90-94B) and 2,592 growth engines (GE90-115B). Originally one of three engine choices for 777, Boeing selected the GE90- 115B in July 1999 as the exclusive power for longer-range Boeing 777-300ER and 777- 200LR jetliners. The engine also exclusively powers the 777 Freighter.
Its architecture and mechanical design have influenced every GE and CFM turbofan over the last two decades, from the popular GEnx and record-selling CFM LEAP engine to the Passport for corporate jets and the next generation GE9X engine for the Boeing 777X family. The GE90 included many firsts for a commercial jet engine including:
• The first commercial engine to enter service with carbon fiber composite fan blades
• The first commercial engine certified at over 100,000 pounds of thrust
• The first engine certified for ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operation Performance Standards)
• The first commercial engine certified with an additive part (T25 sensor casing)
• The first commercial engine to enter service with a dual annual combustor system
Today, the GE90 engine has been among the most reliable in the industry with a world class dispatch reliability rate of 99.98 percent. The engine has achieved the lowest maintenance burden to date through service bulletin terminating action acceleration and analytics-based field programs.
Like all GE Aerospace engines, the GE90 can operate on approved sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends today. The GE90 engine powered the industry’s first commercial airplane test flight with 100% SAF in both engines by the 2018 Boeing ecoDemonstrator, a FedEx Express 777 Freighter.
*CFM is a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines
