Boeing 747 Purchased As New Flying Testbed For Next-Gen Engine Flight Tests

A $60 million investment has been made by GE Aviation to purchase and refurbish a Boeing 747-400 aircraft and turn it into a new flying test bed that will test the next generation of jet engines-starting with the LEAP-X engine.

The recently purchased 747 aircraft features GE's CF6-80C2 engines and will be home-based at GE's Victorville, CA facility. It will replace the current 747 flying testbed, which is the oldest version of the 747 still flying in the U.S. and the fifth oldest in the world. GE has been operating the current 747 flying testbed since 1992 and has operated a flying testbed since 1945.

"This investment in an updated 747 flying testbed is exciting news for the Victorville site and shows our commitment to the Southern California Logistics Airport and the Southern California region," said Dom Pitocco, plant leader for GE's Victorville Flight Test Operations. "Refurbishment of the new flying testbed will take about two years with the aircraft making its inaugural test flight with the new LEAP-X engine."

"This Boeing 747 aircraft was a former Japan Airlines passenger aircraft, and GE selected this aircraft for purchase since it was well maintained by Japan Airlines' engineering team," said Colleen Athans, vice president and general manager of Assembly, Test and Overhaul at GE Aviation.

"GE Aviation's $60 million investment to the purchasing and refurbishing a Boeing 747 aircraft to use as a testbed for future generation jet engines is the type of investment in innovation that will guarantee America has a competitive edge in aviation technology on a global scale", said Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon.

To prepare the aircraft for flight-testing, its wing and strut will be redesigned and strengthened to accommodate experimental engines of varying size and weight. The plane's interior will also be modified, and GE will install data systems for testing and systems integration equipment to transform the aircraft into a flying testbed.

FMI: www.geae.com