Tests of the first full General Electric (GE) GE90-115B engine are progressing rapidly at Peebles, Ohio, where around 40 test hours have been completed. The engine, which reached a record thrust level of 120,316lb (535kN) within 24h of its first run on 18 November, will be joined by a second engine in December.
Flight tests on GE's Boeing 747 flying test bed are set to begin in February, with around 250h of flight tests planned. US certification of the engine to FAR Part 33 is planned for the third quarter of 2002, with first flight on the 777-300ER due in January 2003.
Source: Flight International
