GE designs lighter engine blades

General Electric has redesigned the engines that will power the Boeing 777X to have thinner and stronger blades than any GE engine in service. GE has designed advanced carbon-fibre composite fan blades for its GE9x engine, and the 777X will have two of them. The engine component redesign comprises carbon fiber and improved epoxy resin fan blades. The blades' leading-edge material also will be made from a steel alloy rather than titanium to increase strength. It has been a decade since GE designed a new composite fan blade for the GEnx engine. IHI Corp., Snecma and Techspace Aero and MTU Aero Engines have also joined the effort to develop the GE9X. (Source: Flightglobal, 08/26/14) Gulf Coast note: GE Aviation has engine parts plants in Ellisville and Batesville, Miss., and Auburn, Ala.