GE celebrates CF34 milestone.(BUSINESS BRIEFING)(GE Aircraft Engines)

GE's CF34 engine family has celebrated its fifteenth birthday. The 3,600 CF34 engines in service have accumulated more than 40 million engine hours. The first member of the family was the CF343 engine, launched on the Bombardier CRJ 100 aircraft in 1992.

The CF34-8 engine is the fastest-selling engine in the CF34 family. With more than 1,200 engines in service with 40 operators, the engine powers the Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft as well as the Embraer E170 and E175 aircraft.

Earlier this year, GE announced the new CF34-8C5A2 engine would be offered on the new Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jet. The new engine derivative will be rated at the same 14,510 pounds of thrust as the original CF34-8C5, but with a greater thrust capability at takeoff.

The CF34-10E engine that powers the Embraer E190 and E195 entered service in 2005 and has more than 200 engines in service with 11 operators. The engine has the highest thrust rating for the CF34 family (20,0001b).

The CF34-10A First Engine to Test (FETT) was started up on schedule on 8 October at GE's Peebles, Ohio test operation. After a successful break-in run, the engine demonstrated about 70% of its maximum thrust capability of more than 20,000 pounds during the initial test. GE is developing the CF34-10A turbofan engine for the 90-passenger, twin-engine ARJ21-700 regional jet being developed by China Aviation Industry Corp (AVIC 1) for both the Chinese and export markets. The FEI-r engine was scheduled to perform initial performance calibration runs in October, after which it was to be fitted with instrumentation for fan vibration and crosswind operability certification testing. The first two flight-test engines were due to start testing at Peebles in November in preparation for shipment to AVIC 1 in December. The ARJ21 aircraft was scheduled to roll-out in December with first flight set for first quarter 2008 and entry into service in 2009. Certification of the CF34-10A by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is targeted for late 2008. The engine will be certified at up to 18,500 pounds to meet aircraft thrust requirements.

Recent CF34 upgrades include a CF34-3A1 upgrade that converts it to a CF34-3B1 engine with improved fuel burn and climb thrust capability. The CF34-3B1 engine upgrades include advanced material and coatings on the high-pressure turbine blade, nozzles and shrouds for improved durability and longer time on wing. An upgrade for the CF34-8C1 fleet infuses advanced technology and improved durability components from the--8C5 engine into the existing engines to create a common engine for the CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft.

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