eCore 2 Testing Yielding Outstanding Results

August 18, 2011

Testing of CFM International's advanced eCore Demonstrator 2, which began testing in May at a special altitude test facility in Evendale, Ohio, is progressing on schedule and yielding outstanding results.

LEAP is a product of CFM, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran group) and GE.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the results we have achieved," said Ron Klapproth, LEAP program director for CFM. "The core is running smoothly, and getting to test a month ahead of schedule is a great accomplishment. It really demonstrates our commitment to mature the technology well ahead of time; we're confident that we will meet our performance targets."

eCore Demo 2, which includes a 10-stage compressor, lower emission TAPS 2 combustor, and two-stage high-pressure turbine, is the configuration for the LEAP engine schedule to enter service on the Airbus A320neo and COMAC C919 in 2016. To date, CFM has received orders for more than 1,100 LEAP engines to power these two aircraft types. Additionally, pending approval by the Boeing Board of Directors to offer the airplane, LEAP will also be the exclusive powerplant for the new engine 737 aircraft announced in July 2011.

Overall, CFM will complete approximately 150 200 test hours on the core. The heavily instrumented hardware is testing approximately 2,000 different engine parameters. This unique test facility allows CFM to put the hardware through its paces by simulating both ground and altitude conditions over a much greater operating range than could be conducted with a full engine test. It allows engineers to see how the core behaves outside of standard operating conditions at extremes the engine would never encounter in typical commercial airline service.

CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran group) and GE. It is the world's leading producer of commercial aircraft engines, with more than 21,000 delivered since the company's formation in 1974.

Jamie Jewell



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jamie.jewell@ge.com

Charles Soret



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charles.soret@safrangroup.com

Perry Bradley



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Talal Ahmed Almahmood


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talal.almahmood@gulfair.com