GEnx Engine For New Boeing 747-8 Begins Flight-Testing on Historic 747The engine flew underneath the wing of N747GE a 747-121 (19651/25), formerly of Pan American Airways and the 16th 747 ever built and delivered in March 1970. Most recently, the aircraft served as the the test bed for the GEnx-1B and GE90-115B engines that power the 787-8 and 777-300ER/200LR/F aircraft, respectively.
VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA - March 24, 2009 - The new GEnx-2B jet engine for Boeing's new 747-8 aircraft has begun flight-testing on GE Aviation's 747 flying test-bed.
During the five-hour first flight Monday (March 23), a single GEnx-2B engine demonstrated aircraft systems and instrumentation functionality, climbing close to 40,000 feet and establishing engine performance baseline. About 40 flights with the engine are planned for this spring and summer.
Photos courtesy General Electric
on March 24, 2009 6:14 PM | Reply
Love your blog Jon. Question, has the GE testbed 747-100 ever tested another engine designed for the 747?
on March 24, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply
The 747-8 is going to look awesome with 4 of those strapped to it!
on March 24, 2009 9:42 PM | Reply
big engines on a 747, sweet, 747 engines have always looked a bit small for it
on March 25, 2009 1:51 AM | Reply
I remmember that Aircraft has also flown as a testbed the Engine Alliance GP7200 for the A380.
Jon, tell me if it was a dream.
on March 25, 2009 5:51 AM | Reply
Certainly is a big engine, but keep her level. Not a real lot of ground clearance gauging by that bloke walking past. Looks to be knee level on him.
Would anyone have any information/ links on what's happening with the A400M please? Everything I read seems to be outdated.
on March 25, 2009 9:01 AM | Reply
What an exciting day! This is just a further step in realising this plane will be build.
The enjins on the -400 looks small today. But 20 odd years ago when it came out, they were huge. We had gotten used to the high bypass enjins that came out later on the 777s. They only make anything else look small.