The largest General Electric GE90 variant, the -115B for Boeing's 777-200LR and -300ER ultra-long range twins, flew for the first time on 18 September on the company's 747-100 testbed from Mojave, California. The engine is due to be certificated at 115,000lb-thrust (511kN) by the end of this year, and is set to enter service on the 777-300ER in 2004. The flight was the first of 30 planned sorties totalling 150h. Further tests will evaluate altitude performance, air starting and operability transients. Firm orders for the new 777 variants remain at 49, giving GE engine orders estimated at $2 billion.
Source: Flight International
