GE's CT7-2E1 hit a significant milestone with its 250th engine delivery. The 250th CT7-2E1 engine was shipped to Leonardo in late September in support of the AW149 and AW189 helicopter programs respectively.

According to Elissa Lee, Director of GE Aerospace’s Commercial Turboshaft Engines, “The production rate for the CT7-2E1 engine has been steadily increasing, and we anticipate the production line will continue for many more decades to support the AW149 and AW189 programs due to its outstanding reliability and performance.”

GE’s CT7-2E1 engine is the powerplant of choice with the majority of customers who operate the Leonardo AW149 and AW189 helicopters. The CT7-2E1 has proven itself with reliable operations in harsh and maritime environments while offering lower engine weight, lower fuel consumption, and maintenance cost advantages compared to other engines in this power class.

The CT7-2E1 version of the highly successful CT7 family is designed with technical features that ensure the aircraft meets requirements for long-range, high-speed, and Category A performance. The engine leverages more than 100 million flight hours of experience from the T700/CT7 engine family while incorporating a state-of-the-art Full Authority Digital Control (FADEC) and advanced materials, primarily in the turbine section.

The CT7-2E1 engine’s reliability is augmented by GE’s continuous improvement approach to engine performance. In 2021, GE released a new CT7-2E1 engine control software which incorporates Prognostic Diagnostic Based Monitoring (PDBM), and time-limited dispatch features, and enables better time-on-wing.

As with all of GE’s engines, the CT7-2E1 engine can operate with approved Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blends to reduce lifecycle CO₂ emissions. As an example, the AW149 helicopter flew with SAF fuel at the Royal International Air Tattoo airshow earlier this year. GE is heavily involved in the qualification and testing of approved SAF blends.