4月底，波音公司與CFM International為一架搭載了改造版LEAP-1B發(fā)動機(jī)的747飛機(jī)進(jìn)行了首飛測試，測試地點(diǎn)位于加利福尼亞州維克多維爾的通用航空飛行測試中心。
這是一個為期兩年的項(xiàng)目，預(yù)計(jì)在2016年完成LEAP發(fā)動機(jī)的認(rèn)證，并在2017年推出波音737 MAX。本次進(jìn)行的飛行測試是這一項(xiàng)目的里程碑。據(jù)稱，在5.5小時(shí)的首飛測試中，LEAP（尖端航空推進(jìn)）發(fā)動機(jī)已在多個海拔高度上成功完成多項(xiàng)航空力學(xué)測試。
CFM的首席試飛駕駛員Steven Crane表示：“這些發(fā)動機(jī)所體現(xiàn)出的技術(shù)成熟度很少能在新產(chǎn)品身上看到。” CFM是一家由Snecma和通用公司以各占50%股權(quán)的結(jié)構(gòu)建立的合資企業(yè)。
LEAP-1B是波音737 MAX系列的專用發(fā)動機(jī)，同時(shí)也是“CFM史上最為詳盡的地面與飛行測試認(rèn)證項(xiàng)目。”第一臺LEAP-1B發(fā)動機(jī)于2014年6月13日開始地面測試，比2011年項(xiàng)目開始時(shí)所設(shè)定的測試日程早了3天。波音商用飛機(jī)部門737 MAX項(xiàng)目副總裁兼總經(jīng)理Keith Leverkuhn表示，737 MAX的燃油效率將會比當(dāng)今效率最高的下一代737高出14%，比首批進(jìn)入市場的下一代737高出20%。
整個5月都排滿了測試項(xiàng)目，待測內(nèi)容包括發(fā)動機(jī)的運(yùn)行、失速裕度、性能、排放和聲學(xué)測試等。此外，測試中還將驗(yàn)證一些發(fā)動機(jī)中的高級技術(shù)，包括編織碳纖維復(fù)合材料風(fēng)扇、雙環(huán)預(yù)混(TAPS)燃燒室、高壓渦輪中的陶瓷矩陣復(fù)合材料側(cè)支索、以及低壓渦輪中的鋁化鈦葉片。
“LEAP發(fā)動機(jī)已經(jīng)以相當(dāng)出色的表現(xiàn)，通過了一次異常嚴(yán)格的地面和飛行測試項(xiàng)目，”CFM執(zhí)行副總裁的Allen Paxson表示。“所有發(fā)動機(jī)都配上了大量儀器設(shè)備，許多還進(jìn)行了人為的損壞，以測試其在最嚴(yán)苛的環(huán)境下表現(xiàn)出的性能和耐久性。我們已成功完成幾個重要的認(rèn)證測試，包括結(jié)冰、鳥群吸入、大型鳥類吸入，甚至還有風(fēng)扇葉片脫落測試。這臺發(fā)動機(jī)通過了全部測試，結(jié)果也符合預(yù)期要求。”
至今為止，搭載LEAP-1B的737 MAX已獲得來自全球57家客戶的2724份訂單。整個項(xiàng)目涵蓋了所有三種型號的LEAP發(fā)動機(jī)，地面與CFM飛行測試共使用28臺，飛機(jī)制造商測試共使用32臺。LEAP-1A是空客A320neo的選配發(fā)動機(jī)，而LEAP-1C則是COMAC C919機(jī)型的專用發(fā)動機(jī)。
三年來，這些發(fā)動機(jī)累計(jì)完成近4萬次循環(huán)測試，已為正式服役做好準(zhǔn)備。LEAP發(fā)動機(jī)開始服役時(shí)，已研發(fā)出60款不同型號航空發(fā)動機(jī)的CFM，在航空領(lǐng)域的經(jīng)驗(yàn)將超過十五年。
CFM于2008年正式發(fā)布了LEAP發(fā)動機(jī)——這是該公司近40年來研發(fā)的首臺全新的中心線發(fā)動機(jī)(centerlineengine)。該發(fā)動機(jī)是為了超越CFM56系列而設(shè)計(jì)的，無論是在燃油效率、還是在排放和噪音的減少方面，新款發(fā)動機(jī)都實(shí)現(xiàn)了兩位數(shù)的增長，而且還能維持前者的耐久性和較低的擁有成本。
2011年，波音將LEAP-1B選為其全新737 MAX機(jī)型的專用發(fā)動機(jī)，繼續(xù)延長與CFM超過30年的合作關(guān)系。CFM是自1984年737 Classic上市以來，737系列的獨(dú)家發(fā)動機(jī)供應(yīng)商。
LEAP for Boeing 737 MAX makes first flight
At the end of April, Boeing and CFM International initiated flight testing of the LEAP-1B engine on a modified 747 flying testbed at GE Aviation Flight Test Operations in Victorville, CA.
The flight testing is a major milestone in a two-year program that will culminate in engine certification in 2016 and delivery of the first Boeing 737 MAX in 2017. The LEAP (leading edge aviation propulsion) engine is said to have performed well and completed multiple aeromechanical test points at various altitudes during the 5.5 h first flight.
According to Chief Test Pilot Steven Crane, CFM, "These engines are demonstrating a maturity that you don't always see in new products." CFM is a 50/50 joint venture between Snecma and GE.
The LEAP-1B engine is the exclusive powerplant for the Boeing 737 MAX family and is part of “the most extensive ground and flight test certification program in CFM's history.” The first LEAP-1B engine began ground testing on June 13, 2014, three days ahead of the schedule set when the program was launched in 2011. Keith Leverkuhn, Vice President and General Manager, 737 MAX program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, says the 737 MAX is on track to deliver 14% more fuel efficiency than today's most efficient Next-Generation 737s and 20% more efficiency than the first Next-Generation 737s to enter service.
Throughout May, the flight test program will consist of a comprehensive test schedule that will gauge engine operability, stall margin, performance, emissions, and acoustics. It also will further validate the advanced technologies incorporated in the engine, including the woven carbon fiber composite fan, the Twin-Annular, Pre-Mixing Swirler (TAPS) combustor, ceramic matrix composite shrouds in the high-pressure turbine, and titanium aluminide blades in the low-pressure turbine.
"The LEAP engine has been doing incredibly well throughout a very rigorous ground and flight test program," said Allen Paxson, CFM Executive Vice President. "All of these engines are heavily instrumented, many of them deliberately deteriorated, to calibrate performance and durability in the most extreme conditions. We have successfully completed several major certification tests, including icing, flocking bird ingestion, large-bird ingestion, and even a fan blade-out test. We have passed them all and the results are right in line with what we predicted and where we wanted this engine to be."
To date, the LEAP-1B-powered 737 MAX has accumulated 2724 orders from 57 customers worldwide. The total program encompassing all three LEAP engine variants includes 28 ground and CFM flight test engines, along with a total of 32 flight test engines for the aircraft manufacturers. The LEAP-1A is an option for the Airbus A320neo and the LEAP-1C is the only Western powerplant option for the COMAC C919.
Over a three-year span, these engines will accumulate approximately 40,000 engine cycles leading up to entry into service. By the time this engine enters service, CFM will have simulated more than 15 years of airline service with 60 different engine builds.
CFM officially launched the LEAP engine, which is the company's first all-new centerline engine in nearly 40 years, in 2008. The engine was being designed to bring double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency, emissions and noise, while maintaining the reliability and low cost of ownership of its predecessor, the CFM56 engine family.
In 2011, Boeing selected the LEAP-1B as the sole powerplant for its new 737 MAX, extending a more than 30-year relationship. CFM has been the only engine provider for the 737 aircraft family since the 737 Classic entered service in 1984.
波音公司與CFM International為一架搭載了改造版LEAP-1B發(fā)動機(jī)的747飛機(jī)進(jìn)行了首飛測試，測試地點(diǎn)位于加利福尼亞州維克多維爾的通用航空飛行測試中心
LEAP發(fā)動機(jī)的研發(fā)基礎(chǔ)是CFM在先進(jìn)空氣動力學(xué)、環(huán)境與材料技術(shù)方面的深厚底蘊(yùn)。與當(dāng)今最好的CFM發(fā)動機(jī)相比，無論在燃耗還是CO2排放上，這款發(fā)動機(jī)都能實(shí)現(xiàn)兩位數(shù)的改善，此外發(fā)動機(jī)的噪音與排放也將顯著降低。