Aviation Engines, Propulsion & Auxiliary Power Units

Source: CFM International


SAFRAN PATENT FILINGS OFFER NEW DETAILS ON RISE ENGINE CONCEPTS
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Source: CFM International


PARIS - Recent patent filings from Safran Aircraft Engines offer a glimpse into the technology being developed for the CFM RISE, a next-generation open-rotor engine. The patents focus on overcoming the inherent challenges of open-rotor designs to improve efficiency, safety, and noise levels in the next generation of narrowbody airliners.

A key focus of the filings is the swirl recovery vanes, or stator blades, positioned behind the large fan blades. These vanes are critical for straightening the airflow to generate thrust and for recovering energy from the rotating flow, which significantly boosts the engine's overall efficiency and performance. The patents explore optimizing the number, geometry, and placement of these vanes to manage airflow around other engine components like the mounting pylon.

To combat noise, which is a major concern for engines without a traditional nacelle, Safran has patented stator blades with serrated, saw-tooth leading edges to break up sound-producing air turbulence. Another patent addresses safety by proposing a set of protective "chopper" blades to slice through foreign object debris before it can enter the engine core.

Another concept revealed in the documents is the potential inclusion of a reduction gearbox. While CFM has publicly stated that the RISE engine's anticipated 20% fuel burn reduction will primarily come from the open-rotor's propulsive efficiency and an advanced core, some Safran patents describe an optimized fan system that uses a gearbox. This would allow the fan to rotate at a slower, more efficient speed than the low-pressure turbine, a common architecture in modern geared turbofan engines.

 

Source: SkyWest


SKYWEST ORDERS CF34 ENGINES TO POWER NEW EMBRAER 175 JETS
Thursday, July 10, 2025

Source: SkyWest


CINCINNATI, Ohio - SkyWest, Inc. has finalized an agreement for GE Aerospace CF34-8E engines, plus spares, to power its order of 60 new Embraer 175 regional jets.

"The CF34 engine has a long track record of success with SkyWest, exclusively powering their entire fleet of over 600 aircraft," said Russell Stokes, President and CEO, Commercial Engines and Services, GE Aerospace.

The first SkyWest CF34-3B engine entered service in 1994, installed on the Bombardier CRJ200. Since then, SkyWest has grown to become the single largest operator of CF34 engines and the largest regional aviation operator worldwide. The SkyWest fleet of all GE Aerospace engines currently includes more than 1,200 CF34-3B, -8C, and -8E engines.

GE Aerospace has delivered more than 11,000 CF34 engines over the years. The company claims a dispatch reliability rate of 99.97% on a rolling 12-month time period.

 

Source: US Air Force


FORMER USAF LEADERS PUSH BACK AGAINST F-35 AND E-7A CUTS
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Source: US Air Force


WASHINGTON, D.C. - More than a dozen of the U.S. Air Force's most senior retired leaders, including six former chiefs of staff, have publicly urged Congress to reject Pentagon proposals to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program and significantly reduce the procurement of F-35A fighter jets. In a letter to congressional leadership, the 16 retired four-star generals expressed alarm that these cuts, proposed for the fiscal year 2026 budget, would severely undermine the nation's ability to deter and win future conflicts. The letter represents an extraordinary public intervention by a group that collectively led the service for over 25 years.

The generals staunchly defended the necessity of both aircraft. They called the plan to scrap the E-7 airborne warning and control system (AWACS), intended to replace the aging E-3 Sentry, a serious mistake. "The E-2 is unable to meet the combatant command requirements for theater-wide airborne command and control," according to the letter. "That is not the mission for which it is designed. Additionally, the E-7 can perform missions different from traditional AWACS roles that will be critical to the China contingency." The letter added that a space-based solution faces daunting technical challenges that could take decades to overcome.

Similarly, the retired leaders emphasized that the F-35A has proven its critical role in recent combat operations and urged Congress not only to reverse the proposed cuts but to increase the procurement rate to renew the USAF's fighter fleet. While acknowledging delays in the F-35 program, including the Technology Refresh 3 upgrade program, the former leaders noted that the new hardware and software are nearly certified. The letter urges Congress not only to reject the Pentagon's proposed cuts to the F-35A but to actively increase the procurement plan by purchasing 75 of the jets in 2026.

 

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