Viktig motortest påbegynt

CFM's Leap Engine Begins Flight-test Program

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE » OCTOBER 13, 2014

by  CHARLES ALCOCK

The CFM Leap engine made its first flight mounted on GE Aviation's Boeing 747 flying testbed on October 9. [Photo: CFM International]

October 9, 2014, 9:41 AM

CFM International on October 9 achieved the first flight of its new Leap engine when an example of the new turbofan took off on a modified Boeing 747 flying testbed from GEAviation’s flight-test operations center in Victorville, Calif. The new line of turbofans is set to power the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737 Max and China’s Comac C919 new-generation narrowbodies. For the A320neo, the Leap 1A engine is the alternative powerplant to Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G geared turbofan, which recently powered the A320neo’s first flight. The Leap 1B model is being developed for the 737 Max series and the Leap 1C will be used for the C919. All variants are on track for certification in 2015, said CFM.