GE Aerospace has delivered its 250th CT7-2E1 helicopter engine, the company said yesterday. The engine was shipped to Leonardo Helicopter in late September and will support Leonardo's AW149 and AW189 aircraft programs.
The CT7-2E1 is a member of the T700/CT7 engine family that delivers 1,500 to 3,000 shp and has accumulated more than 100 million flight hours. These engines power military helicopters such as the Sikorsky Black Hawk; Bell AH-1W, AH-1Z, and UH-1Y; and Boeing AH-64 Apache, as well as civil helicopters including the aforementioned Leonardo models and the Sikorsky S-92A.
GE noted that the engine is designed with technical features that ensure the aircraft meets requirements for long-range, high-speed, and Category A performance. The latest engine variants are equipped with Fadec and advanced materials primarily in the turbine section. In 2021, GE released a CT7-2E1 engine control software that incorporates prognostic diagnostic-based monitoring and time-limited dispatch features that enable better time-on-wing.
The CT7-2E1 can operate with approved sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends. An AW149 powered by the engines flew with SAF at the Royal International Air Tattoo airshow earlier this year.