GE Honda Aero Engines has begun releasing hardware designs and receiving manufactured hardware for its first HF120 development engine, in preparation for formal certification testing.
While the first HF120 development engine will begin assembly later this year, the program 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 10 HF120 engine cores and 10 full engine demonstrators.
During demonstration testing at Honda’s WAKO-Nishi R&D Center in Japan, the HF120 engine produced more than 2,100 pounds of thrust and exceeded its ambitious fuel efficiency target. The tests also verified the engine design’s operability, thermal, mechanical and component efficiencies.
Certification testing will be completed in 2009 and will include flights on a flying testbed to enable the engine to undergo flight tests before flying on the customer certification aircraft in 2009. By entry into service, the HF120 is expected to have accumulated more than 15,000 cycles of ground and flight testing.
