BOEING SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES 747-8 FREIGHTER ENGINE RUNS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- Boeing successfully completed the
first engine runs for the 747-8 Freighter.

The milestone marks another step in the 747 program’s steady progress in
preparing for flight test, Boeing said in a statement from Everett in
Washington.

"We are very pleased with the engines’ performance during this test," said
Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 program. "The engines
and all the systems performed as expected."

Engine runs began slightly before 10 a.m. (PST) Tuesday. During initial
engine runs, the engines are started and operated at various power settings to
ensure all systems perform as expected.

The engine run test began with the auxiliary power system providing power to
start the first of four General Electric GEnx-2B engines. The remaining three
engines were started using the cross-bleed function.

Basic systems checks continued throughout the test. The engines were powered
down and inspected and will be restarted following a technical review.

The team completed a vibration check and monitored the shutdown logic to
ensure it functioned as expected.

"This milestone is an exciting one for the GEnx-2B team and we anticipate
the engines will continue the same high performance that we have experienced in
our ground and flight tests," said Tom Brisken, general manager of the GEnx
Program at GE Aviation.

The GEnx-2B engine is optimized for the 747-8. It helps provide customers
with improved fuel efficiency, reductions in emissions and noise and a lower
cost of ownership.

-- BERNAMA