Boeing’s 747-8 Intercontinental program reached a new milestone on Tuesday, completing its first ever engine runs.
Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental engine testing. (Photo courtesy of Boeing)
The test gauntlet of the four GE GEnx-2B engines lasted about 2 hours and 45 minutes, during which the engines were spun at various thrust settings, shut down, and restarted, all while closely monitoring their vibration and performance.
“The integrated airplane systems and engines performed as expected,” said Elizabeth Lund, vice president and deputy program manager of the 747 program. “This result allows us to continue moving forward to first flight.”
Derived from the GEnx-1B engines designed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the GEnx-2B are optimized for the missions of the 747-8, promising more efficient fuel burn, reduced emissions and noise.
