General Electric has recalled all delivered GE9X engines that power the Boeing 777X, for an immediate redesign.
The recent announcement, that the engine test and certification program would be delayed, has further impacted Boeing by setting back 777X progress.
Citing Flight Global, the news comes as Volga-Dnepr filed an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for rights to transport engines between Washington and Ohio.
General Electric states four engines will be transported from Washington to Ohio, to undergo inspection, and have redesigned components installed.
The four engines being sent back are of the “compliance category” meaning they will be the ones powering the multiple 777-9 test aircraft.
Continuous testing of the engine has identified a design flaw, this flaw requires stator vanes in the second stage of the high-pressure compressor to be redesigned.
Analysis of the problematic component produced information regarding increased wear and exhaust gas temperatures, significantly higher than optimal limits.
General Electric maintains the redesigned component won’t hinder efficiency and performance promises.
Despite the setback, Boeing aims to fly, test and deliver the 777X in 2020 – an ambitious and aggressive test campaign.
Volga-Dnepr will utilise an Antonov AN-124-100 Freighter to transport the engines between facilities, along with their associated equipment.
Due to the enormous size of the GE9X engines, an exemption had to be made as no U.S. based airline has the ability to haul such a significant piece of equipment.
The document states the following size and weight of the engines as the following:
- 8 x 4 x 4m (26 x 14 x 13ft)
- 36,000lb (16,300kg)
Emphasizing the importance of the exemption, Volga-Dnepr outlines a failure to deliver the engines by air could result in greater delays to the 777X program; this would result in significant financial harm to Boeing, GE and customers.
The news isn’t entirely doom and gloom for the GE9X, however.
Testing has unveiled the engine has the ability to produce over 134,000lbs of thrust – a world record!
The only remaining tests are emissions and block testing, which include running the engine 25 times for a period of six hours with the exhaust gas temperature (EGT), fan speed and core speed at maximum “redline” indications.
With the redesign in progress, it’s unknown when these tests will be completed and how far the engine is from complete certification.
For those desperate to hear the new flagship in action, check out this video:
Garry, please get back to us if you stay at the TWA hotel! I’m curious to hear details!
This is not good for Boeing, yet MORE delays and delays across the board of aircraft manufacture! They simply have not trained nor employed enough staff for production and thats also attached to quality control issues and again pushing everything in size wise and tech wise to the limits with limited trial testing time as to rush of launch dates that are brought to early forward for airlines desires!
Airlines are very impatient to get their new aircraft especially nowadays as they ,especially the premium carriers, want to be ahead in the market place on inflight comfort,design and tech and ofcourse the ever-increasing reduction of costs! Also this strange ‘boasting’ of having a modern fleet??? Sometimes old can be better,atleast they work and fly fine like BA olds B747’s rust buckets!Though hey,they are still flying everyday,old tech and no engine issues or delays because of battery failures either!!No wonder some airlines are hanging on to old aircraft as a back-up! even so they cost more to operate.
This piece of news does not surprise me as when your trying to get an engine to do the job of 2 and fly further and carry more with limited or rushed testing as of a launch date rather than a date to when the engine is ready,thats what you get!
Though this is a GREAT opportunity for Airbus to get ahead with the A350-1000ULR and maybe the 2000 super-long? If RR Ultrafan can speed-up maybe airlines will cancel and op for Airbus instead as it may become a more prospective desire for future fleet requirements! Afterall the A350 is more modern and better in everyway! I am sure Airbus could make new wings for the engines if needed and also in size and range! Ultrafan is said to be as or larger than the GE 9X when it finally arrives. Can you imagine how big thats going to be!!!
By the way ,anyone who was wandering what the word i was looking for on another piece for retro airlines that i was sure began with an L,well its was ‘legacy’ for known legacy airlines ! Got to try that TWA hotel out.
Regards.