The New Beast

GE Aviation just put out their new giant engine for a test, the GE9X, engineered and designed to be a powerful and highly fuel-efficient beast.

And it comes with 3D-printed parts!

Testing it out in the woods in Ohio, the company was able to see the capabilities of the new engine. Generating a whopping 444,822 N of thrust (100,000 pounds of thrust), and maintaining fuel consumption, the GE9X is right up there with space shuttle in terms of power.

The GE9X out on the test site near Peebles, Ohio. Credit: GE Reports

It's All Thanks to Engineering 

The GE9X boasts a front fan with a world-record diameter of 3.35 m (11 ft.), carbon fiber fan blades, and 3D-printed fuel nozzles. GE claims that the fuel nozzles are responsible for much of the engine's fuel-efficiency, due to their complex internal shapes which can only be produced by 3D printing technology.

This is not, however, the company's first incorporation of 3D printing into their designs.

The GE9X is currently being developed for the new Boeing 777X airplane, but it still won't be going into commercial service anytime soon.


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