The General Electric GE90 Turbofan Engine

The GE90 turbofan engine from General Electric Aero Engines is the newest, if not most advanced engine presently offered on the 777. Unlike the PW4000 or the Trent series, the GE90 does not utilize the cores of previous engine families. Although the GE90 is similar to in many respects and draws upon the experience gained from GE's CF-6 (747, 767, MD-11, A300, A310, A330) turbofans as well as its CFM-56 line (737, A319, A320, A340, MD-90), the actual core is not the same. As in the CFM-56 program, the Senecma company of France worked with General Electric as a risk-sharing partner in the GE90 program. Fiat Avio of Italy and Ishikawajima-Harima of Japan were also risk/revenue sharing partners. Being the newest, and the only totally clean sheet design of the three, the GE90 utilizes 22 composite wide-chord blades to achieve the lowest specific fuel consumption of any 777 engine. It is also the quietest engine of the three and features a double dome annular combustor for emission control. With a specific fuel consumption 10 percent below existing engines, the GE90 offers the lowest fuel expenses to the operator airline. Some airlines, however, will prefer fleet commonality among engine cores installed in its other aircraft which the GE90 cannot provide. The GE90 has also helped refine the methods used by the FAA for certification of new engines to better reflect advances in composite technology. It is certified for ETOPS at 84,700 lbs and is considered the most reliable commercial engine currently available. Growth versions up to 120,000lbs planned.

Composite Fan Blade Features	Compressor Blade Comparisons
Engine Testing	Combustor
Compressor Stage 1 and Stator	GE90 without Nacelle