Power struggle as engine makers address the oil price crisis

摘要

With fuel costs a major theme of the show and the 'GTF vs 'Open Rotor' debate being a major talking point (see Prize Fight, Aerospace International, July 2008), CFM International took the opportunity to launch its LEAP-X engine - a new powerplant aimed to be in service by 2016. The engine is expected to be 16% more fuel efficient than the very latest CFM56 variants and uses a combination of advanced 3D flow modelling and new composite woven blades to produce an engine with a 9:1 bypass ratio. Far from being an interim step between the CFM56 and 'open rotors' the LEAP-X will be developed in parallel with the company's efforts into open rotor designs which, despite the issues, it believes is the best long-term solution. CFM itself remains critical of GTF - arguing that P&W's claim to be able to increase the GTF's efficiency over time is unrealistic saying "once the architecture is set, it's set". CFM partners GE and Snecma also renewed their 50/50 commitment to CFM for another 30 years.