Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

GE Aviation has completed the initial ground testing of the first full GE9X development engine, the company announced Wednesday. The world’s largest commercial aircraft engine with a front fan diameter of 134 inches, the 100,000-pound-thrust-class turbofan will power the Boeing 777X, scheduled to enter service in 2020.

 


The first GE9X engine accumulated 167 hours, 213 cycles and 89 starts during ground testing. The recent testing provided data on the engine’s aero and thermal characteristics, mechanical integrity, performance and operability. GE Aviation plans to conduct preliminary ice testing on the first engine to test (FETT) later this year.

 


“This engine is living up to our expectations, and we are extremely pleased with the results,” said GE9X program general manager Ted Ingling, “During ground testing at GE Aviation’s Peebles Testing Operation, the first GE9X engine performed flawlessly, providing the engineering team with 1,200 individual data streams that reaffirmed the design.”

 


The FETT represents the culmination of maturation testing on GE9X technologies that started five years ago. The GE9X FETT testing, which began in late March, occurred much earlier in the engine development process than usual and just six months after GE finalized the engine design. According to GE, the timing allows the certification engines to encompass all FETT “learnings.” &nbsp;

 


A second round of testing has begun on a GEnx demonstrator engine with GE9X CMC (ceramic matrix composite) components in the combustor and turbine.&nbsp;

 


Plans call for certification testing on the GE9X program to begin in the first half of next year along with flight testing on GE Aviation’s flying test bed. The company expects the engine to gain certification in 2018.&nbsp;

 


Apart from its size, key features of the GE9X include a composite fan case and 16 carbon fiber composite fan blades; a 27:1 pressure-ratio, 11-stage high-pressure compressor; a third-generation TAPS III combustor for high efficiency and low emissions; and CMC material in the combustor and turbine.

 


IHI Corporation, Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Aero Boosters and MTU Aero Engines all participate in the GE9X engine program.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Full GE9X Engine Completes First Round of Ground Testing

Preparations underway for ice testing

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

One engine would be able to run at low-idle in a twin-engine helicopter application

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Improved engine production and test facilities are mainly focused on military programs

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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Australian start-up planned to convert Beechcraft Bonanza and 1900D aircraft

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News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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