CFM International, a joint venture between France's Snecma and General Electric of the USA, continues to develop its highly successful CFM56 family of engines, and study new potential applications.
The CFM56-5B DAC (double annular combustor) was certificated on the Airbus A321 and A320 in January and March, respectively, and entered service powering Swissair's A321s in February. A total of 12 aircraft will be in service with the -5B DAC by the end of the year.
A recent order from SAS launched the CFM56-7 DAC for the Boeing 737-600, with the engine scheduled for certification in October 1997, and service entry in August 1998.
The CFM56-7 entered the test phase in April, and the manufacturer says that preliminary results show that the engine is performing better than expected in most respects. This non-DAC equipped version should enter service on the 737-700 in October 1997.
An improved version of the CFM56-5B, which is offered for the Airbus A319/320/321 family, is under development. CFMI says that the CFM56-5B/P will offer a 3% improvement in fuel consumption and thrust levels of up to 145kN. The -5B/P is scheduled for certification in March 1996.
The CFM56 Lite is being studied for potential 100-seat aircraft applications, such as Boeing's New Small Aeroplane concept, which CFMI believes could attract up to 2,000 orders over the next 20 years. The Lite derivative includes the CFM56-7 core, with a smaller, wide-chord fan and a full-authority digital engine control. The company says that it has "on-going studies" with aircraft manufacturers, and does not expect the engine to enter service before 2000.
The company is also studying its so-called CFMXX concept, which is pitched at potential growth versions of the Airbus A340, and would have a thrust of around 200kN. Other applications, says CFMI, would include "derivative 200- to 250-seat narrow body aircraft" and a new 250-seat wide body twin in the Airbus A310/Boeing 767 class. As presently envisaged, the engine would have a 2.08m-diameter fan, with a ten-stage high-pressure compressor driven by a two-stage turbine, and a five-stage low-pressure turbine and two-stage low-pressure compressor.
Source: Flight International
