|
Navy Sets New Military 15,000 Hour Time
on Wing
LE BOURGET – June 16, 2003 - The U.S. Navy
has set a new military record for engine time on wing with a CFM56-2A
engine that has logged more than 15,000 flight hours without a single
shop visit. The CFM56-2A is produced by CFM International, a 50/50
joint company between Snecma Moteurs of France and General Electric
Company
The new record was set by a CFM56-2A engine powering an E-6 aircraft
in service with the Navy's TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out) unit
based at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In addition
to the record-setting engine, seven additional engines in this fleet
have reached 14,000 hours without a shop visit, and a total of 45
engines have surpassed the 10,000-hour milestone without a single
removal.
To put this achievement into layman's terms, imagine driving the
same car for 500 years with nothing more than oil changes and new
spark plugs. The Navy has referred to the CFM56 engine, which is
the only engine in U.S. military service to achieve more than 10,000
hours without a shop visit, as “arguably the most reliable
engine in the history of aviation.”
“This is a terrific example of the teamwork between the Navy,
Boeing, and CFM,” said Al DiLibero, general manager of CFM
Military Programs. “We at CFM salute the hard work and positive
attitude of every single military and civilian person attached to
this program. It’s testament to the great work of the men
and women of TACAMO and the reliability and technology of the CFM56
engine.”
The 24,000-pound-thrust CFM56-2A entered service on E-6 aircraft
in 1990.
For military applications, the CFM56-2 has provided outstanding
benefits to its customers, including:
lower fuel burn for longer range, increased time on station, and
increased payload; dramatically improved reliability; lower noise
and emissions levels; and reduced field-length takeoff and/or higher
gross weight operation from high, hot airfields.
# # #
For further information, contact:
Jamie Jewell
33.1.41.57.55.51
jamie.jewell@ae.ge.com
U.S.: 513.243.6890
Rick Kennedy
33.1.41.57.60.02
rick.l.kennedy@ae.ge.com
U.S.: 513.243.3372
Vincent Chappard
33.1. 41.57.55.30
vincent.chappard@snecma.fr
Paris: 33.1.40.60.80.18
|
|
