GE Aerospace Taps Modified Boeing 747 as 'Flying Laboratory' for Engine Testing
GE Aerospace relies on a specially modified Boeing 747 to test and certify new commercial jet engines. The aircraft, affectionately known as the Flying Test Bed (FTB), is used for rigorous testing of various engine components in different weather conditions.
The GE9X engine, currently being developed for Boeing's delayed 777X project, has been a key focus for the company. With its massive 110,000 pounds of thrust, it can fit an entire Boeing 737 fuselage and holds the world record for the highest thrust recorded by a commercial jet engine.
The GE 747 testbed is based at a hangar in Southern California and has accumulated over 1,500 test flights since its acquisition from Japan Airlines in 2010. Equipped with thousands of feet of cables, data boxes, workstations, and passenger recliners, the aircraft serves as a self-contained testing facility for various engine parameters.
GE's chief flight test pilot, Jonathan Ohman, explained that the instrumentation collects about 1,000 parameters during tests, including thrust, fuel flow, and oil temperature. The team typically consists of eight to 20 people, including pilots, engineers, mechanics, and logistics personnel, who work together to gather crucial data.