HF120 Rated At 2,095 Pounds Of Thrust

The first GE Honda HF120 engine has successfully started its initial test run at GE Aviation’s altitude test chamber in Evendale, Ohio, launching the test phase of the program.

“This is a significant milestone and represents the transition from the design-definition phase to the test and certification phase of the HF120,” said Bill Dwyer, president of GE Honda Aero Engines. “Over the next several weeks, we will be mapping the engine performance and operability around the flight envelope while utilizing the full capability of the altitude test chamber.”

“The joint GE and Honda teams in Tokyo, Lynn, Mass. and Evendale, Ohio have worked for more than two years toward this milestone and deserve kudos for their extensive collaboration,” said Masahiko Izumi, executive vice president of GE Honda Aero Engines.

The HF120 engine has experienced one of the most extensive engine test programs prior to the official start of FAA certification testing. To date, GE Honda Aero Engines has built and tested eight HF120 engine cores and 11 full engine demonstrators. During testing, the engine exceeded its design goal of 2095 lbs of thrust.

Thirteen HF120 development engines and two core builds will take part in the certification testing at six locations in the U.S. and Japan. Tests will include fan blade out, crosswind, stress and endurance testing. GE Honda also plans to test the engine on a flying testbed before flying on the customer certification aircraft. By entry into service, the HF120 will have accumulated more than 15,000 cycles of ground and flight testing.

HF120 engine production will initially begin at GE’s site in Lynn, Mass. and will later transition to Honda Aero Inc.’s recently completed engine production and overhaul facility in Burlington, N.C.

Rated at 2,095 pounds of thrust, the HF120 engine succeeds Honda’s original HF118 prototype engine, which has accumulated more than 4,000 hours of testing on the ground and in-flight. GE and Honda redesigned the engine for higher thrust and new standards of performance in fuel efficiency, durability, and low noise and emissions.

FMI: www.gehonda.com, www.geaviation.com