---
title: "GE Tests World’s Largest Jet Engine—And It’s Made of 3D Printed Parts"
description: "GE Aviation has produced the largest jet engine in the world—and it uses 3D-printed components."
date: "2016-04-28"
modified: "2016-11-29"
authors:
  - name: "Colin Aboy"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/colin"
url: "https://futurism.com/ge-aviation-tests-biggest-engine-yet-made-3d-printed-parts"
categories:
  - "3D Printing"
  - "Future Materials"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "3d printing"
  - "aerospace technology"
  - "aviation"
  - "GE Aviation"
  - "GE9X"
---

# GE Tests World’s Largest Jet Engine—And It’s Made of 3D Printed Parts

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GE-aviation_A.png>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="http://www.gereports.com/video-ge-started-testing-the-worlds-largest-jet-engine/" target="\_blank"\>GE Reports\</a\>\</em\>*

## The New Beast

GE Aviation just put out their new giant engine for a test, the [GE9X](<http://www.geaviation.com/commercial/engines/ge9x/>), engineered and designed to be a powerful and highly fuel-efficient beast.

And it comes with 3D-printed parts!

[Testing it out ](<http://www.gereports.com/video-ge-started-testing-the-worlds-largest-jet-engine/>)in the woods in Ohio, the company was able to see the capabilities of the [new engine](<https://futurism.com/physicists-construct-innovative-heat-engine-just-one-atom>). 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.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/9x-1-1024x683.jpg>)
*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](<https://3dprint.com/218/general-electric-to-expand-3d-printing-manufacturing-invests-100-million/>) into their designs.

The GE9X is currently being developed for the new [Boeing 777X ](<http://www.boeing.com/commercial/777x/>)airplane, but it still won't be going into commercial service anytime soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEiWwRyq_9E