The world's largest plane engine was just cleared to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration, paving the way for the commercial launch of the world's largest twin-engine passenger jet in 2022.
General Electric's aviation subsidiary, GE Aviation, is celebrating the milestone with its massive new GE9X engine that will soon fly thousands of passengers around the world every day. It's the exclusive engine for the Boeing 777X, a next-generation version of the manufacturer's famed 777 wide-body aircraft used by the likes of American Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates.
Boeing first gave GE Aviation the exclusive contract to develop and build the engines for the 777X in 2013. A likely match, GE Aviation currently make the GE90 engines that are used by some airlines currently flying the 777, including Qatar Airways which operates the world's longest 777 route between Doha, Qatar, and Auckland, New Zealand.
The engine's certification brings Boeing one step closer to delivering the finished product to launch customer Emirates in 2022. The coronavirus pandemic has slowed enthusiasm for new aircraft deliveries but the 777X is a feat of engineering that offers a 400-seat passenger cabin and increased fuel efficiency at a time when airlines need it the most.
Take a closer look at the GE Aviation GE9X engine.
The 777X is slated to be Boeing's redemption after being plagued by problems on its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner families, two revolutionary aircraft that haven't been able to stay out of the headlines in recent years.
The world's largest twin-engine is chock full of interesting features, including a wingspan so large that it requires retractable wingtips so it doesn't hit other airplanes while taxiing.
But behind any great aircraft is an equally great engine, and that's where the GE Aviation GE9X comes in.
Boeing tapped General Electric to power the 777X in 2013, requiring a new engine for the next-generation plane.
The massive engines are the exclusive powerplant for the 777X, having the world's largest twin-engine jet all to itself and vice versa.
It's not an uncommon practice for an engine to have a monopoly on an aircraft, especially with the specialized next-generation aircraft from Boeing and Airbus.
The Airbus A350 XWB, for example, only uses Rolls-Royce engines.
And GE Aviation didn't disappoint, giving Boeing an engine that boasts 10% greater efficiency compared to its predecessor…
Source: General Electric
Over 100,000 pounds of thrust per engine….
Source: General Electric
And the lowest noise level of any GE Aviation engine.
Source: General Electric
It's the largest airplane engine ever built but the use of composites and 3D printing actually makes it lighter than if using titanium, found on predecessor engines.
Source: General Electric
The list price for each engine is over $70 million and airlines make their own deals to buy the engines from GE Aviation, though some of the leverage is gone since GE is the exclusive engine manufacturer for the 777X.
Source: General Electric
The engine is so large that GE Aviation couldn't help but show off some size comparisons.
With a 134-inch diameter, a 7-foot-tall person could comfortably stand in the engine cavity with room to spare.
In fact, it's around the same width as a Boeing 737 fuselage, one of Boeing's most popular airliners.
Keep in mind, a 737 seats six people across one row separated by an aisle.
GE Aviation has already delivered 10 GE9X engines to Boeing's Everett, Washington facility for the 777X test aircraft.
Boeing has four test aircraft currently crisscrossing the country in preparation for its Federal Aviation Administration certification and entry into service in 2022.
The first flight of the world's longest twin-engine jet took place in January 2020, and so began the flight-testing campaign.
The GE9X will be specific to the 777X but testing the engine required an even bigger aircraft, the venerable Boeing 747.
GE Aviation uses the Queen of the Skies as a testbed aircraft for new engines to put them through their paces in the air.
Flight testing began with the 747 in March 2018 with the GE9X racking up over 5,000 hours in the sky before even coming near a 777X.
Source: General Electric
In the course of the 5,000 hours of testing, the engine held up across 3,000 take-offs and landings.
Various conditions are simulated including icing and rain, while also testing the engine against debris.
GE Aviation has racked up billions in orders for the engines, with over 600 on order from the various 777X carriers. That's over $20 billion in orders before the first aircraft has even been delivered, with maintenance programs also bringing in additional revenue.
The first users of the GE9X will be the 777X's launch customers including Emirates...
All Nippon Airways...
British Airways...
Qatar Airways...
Etihad Airways...
Singapore Airlines...
Lufthansa...
And Cathay Pacific.
Boeing picking GE Aviation for the engine comes as no surprise since GE90 engines have been faithfully powering current-generation 777 aircraft.
The pandemic has slowed Boeing's production schedule for the 777X and the first delivery isn't expected until 2022.
But when it is delivered, the world will look on as the world's largest plane carries the world's largest engines into the next era of aviation.
