Wed, Mar 02, 2011
Boeing 747 Purchased As New Flying Testbed For Next-Gen Engine
Flight Tests
A $60 million investment has been made by GE Aviation to
purchase and refurbish a Boeing 747-400 aircraft and turn it into a
new flying test bed that will test the next generation of jet
engines-starting with the LEAP-X engine.
The recently purchased 747 aircraft features GE's CF6-80C2
engines and will be home-based at GE's Victorville, CA facility. It
will replace the current 747 flying testbed, which is the oldest
version of the 747 still flying in the U.S. and the fifth oldest in
the world. GE has been operating the current 747 flying testbed
since 1992 and has operated a flying testbed since 1945.
"This investment in an updated 747 flying testbed is exciting
news for the Victorville site and shows our commitment to the
Southern California Logistics Airport and the Southern California
region," said Dom Pitocco, plant leader for GE's Victorville Flight
Test Operations. "Refurbishment of the new flying testbed will take
about two years with the aircraft making its inaugural test flight
with the new LEAP-X engine."
"This Boeing 747 aircraft was a former Japan Airlines passenger
aircraft, and GE selected this aircraft for purchase since it was
well maintained by Japan Airlines' engineering team," said Colleen
Athans, vice president and general manager of Assembly, Test and
Overhaul at GE Aviation.
"GE Aviation's $60 million investment to the purchasing and
refurbishing a Boeing 747 aircraft to use as a testbed for future
generation jet engines is the type of investment in innovation that
will guarantee America has a competitive edge in aviation
technology on a global scale", said Congressman Howard "Buck"
McKeon.
To prepare the aircraft for flight-testing, its wing and strut
will be redesigned and strengthened to accommodate experimental
engines of varying size and weight. The plane's interior will also
be modified, and GE will install data systems for testing and
systems integration equipment to transform the aircraft into a
flying testbed.
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