GE Aviation Is Powering The C-5M With Four CF6-80C2 Engines

The C-5M arrived at Oshkosh Friday almost as the Airbus A380 was departing ... and it's a good thing because there likely wasn't enough room for both on AeroShell Square.

"We are proud to celebrate this significant achievement with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force," said Allen Paxson, vice president, Military Systems for GE Aviation. "The engine has consistently demonstrated the lowest specific fuel consumption of any commercial engine in its thrust class. Our Tech CF6 program offers new advanced technologies to further improve the engine's fuel burn retention and operational reliability and lower our customers' cost of ownership."

This aircraft is one of three C-5Ms delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Current Air Force plans call for Lockheed Martin to deliver 52 modernized C-5Ms.

The C-5M Super Galaxy is part of a two-phase modernization effort. The Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) is the second phase, which adds new GE CF6-80C2 commercial engines (military designation F108-GE-100) and other enhancements or replacements of major components and subsystems. The additional 10,000 lbs of thrust per propulsion system creates 40,000 lbs of additional thrust across the platform, significantly improving operational performance. The additional thrust comes at improved fuel efficiencies allowing the C-5M to complete some missions in a single flight leg versus the multiple legs currently required. Overall, the C-5M will save the USAF from 8 – 20% in fuel depending on the mission.

This comprehensive modernization program improves the fleet mission-capable rate (aircraft availability) and the overall reliability and maintainability of the aircraft while reducing total ownership costs. Finally, the C-5M has met stage IV noise requirements thereby reducing the unusual current acoustic signature.

The CF6-80C2 engine entered service in October 1985 and has become the most popular CF6 engine model, with more than 3,700 engines in operation with more than 150 customers. The CF6-80C2 engine powers the Lockheed Martin C-5M, Boeing 747, 767 and MD-11 aircraft as well as the Airbus A300 and A310 aircraft. GE currently has more than 160 million flight-hours on the CF6-80C2 engine fleet.

File Photo

In 2006, GE launched the Tech CF6 program, which incorporates advanced technology into the high-pressure turbine (HPT), combustor and high-pressure compressor (HPC) areas. The new HPT technologies include airfoil-cooling advancements that are now standard on all new CF6-80C2 production engines. The combustor and HPC advancements are available as an upgrade option to incorporate into existing CF6-80C2 fleets.

GE's CF6 engines have been among the most utilized and reliable in the industry. Powering more than 10 models of wide-body aircraft, the engine family has established an unparalleled record of reliability and has compiled more than 330 million flight-hours in service with more than 260 customers worldwide.

FMI: www.ge.com