Technology Insertion effort will boost Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies as CFMI plans next-generation powerplant
CFM International has officially launched the Technology Insertion upgrade plan for current Airbus and Boeing narrowbody engines, and will firm up the study targets for its projected next-generation CFM56 in the next six months.
The Technology Insertion plan allows features developed under CFMI's Tech 56 programme to be used to upgrade the CFM56-5B and -7B engines currently powering the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, respectively. "We decided to go ahead with it in September and it's now an official CFMI programme," says executive vice-president Bill Clapper. CFM56-5B/7B production will switch to the new configuration in the first quarter of 2007, with the upgraded core and low-pressure (LP) turbine nozzle being offered as a retrofit package for existing operators.
The main features of the package include a more advanced, second-generation, three-dimensionally designed high-pressure (HP) compressor blade with greater performance retention, improved cooling, CAEP/6 emission-compliant combustor design and new "low-shock" HP turbine blades contoured to reduce interaction losses with the LP turbine. The LP turbine nozzle is also being offered with modified cooling to make it more durable. A battery of tests, including a 747 flying testbed programme and 10,000-cycle endurance effort, are due to be completed between now and the projected certification date in the fourth quarter of 2006.
CFMI president Pierre Fabre says a further three months will be taken to study "what makes sense to make available as kits". He adds: "To get a new emissions certificate, it must have a new name-plate." The upgraded engines are therefore expected to have similar nomenclature to the CF56-5B/P.
GUY NORRIS / CINCINNATI
Source: Flight International
