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.