GE Honda Powers Up HF120 Program

Assembly has begun at GE’s manufacturing facility in Lynn, Mass., on the first production GE Honda HF120 engine that will be used for FAA certification tests. “With the experience we’ve gained through our demonstrator engine testing program, we are confident the HF120 engine configuration is mature and are anticipating a smooth FAA certification testing program,” said GE Honda Aero Engines president Bill Dwyer. “The first engine to test will run by the end of the summer, and certification testing will continue into 2010.” To date, the company has built and tested eight HF120 engine cores and 11 engine demonstrators. Thirteen HF120 development engines will take part in certification testing in the U.S. and Japan. Certification of the 2,095-pound-thrust engine is slated for next year.