CFM: LEAP-1B achieves major milestone

CFM International announced (02-May-2013) it completed design freeze for the advanced LEAP-1B engine, the exclusive powerplant for the Boeing 737 MAX, paving the way for the first full engine to test in mid-2014. This milestone is effectively the point at which the engine configuration is set, or frozen. This now allows CFM to finalise and release detailed engine design drawings, which it will do over the next six months. Parts manufacturing for the LEAP-1B engine will then accelerate through year end, leading to build-up of the first engine in early 2014. The LEAP-1B is on schedule for CFM flight testing in 2015 and engine certification in 2016. The 737 MAX is scheduled to enter service in 2017. Design freeze for the LEAP-1A / LEAP-1C variants was achieved in Jun-2012. The first full LEAP engine, the LEAP-1A, is currently being built and is on schedule to begin ground testing this fall. Overall, CFM will have a total of 28 certification engine builds and 30 flight test engines across the three LEAP engine models. [more - original PR]