Why Boeing’s Biggest Engine Failed Testing

The General Electric GE9X engine that will be installed on the Boeing 777X promises to be game-changing. It doesn’t feature flashy new innovations like a gearbox, but instead, General Electric made more use of advanced materials than any other engine to deliver unrivaled thermal efficiency, boosting fuel efficiency. What’s more, the engine promises to be exceptionally durable. Essentially a GE90 with GEnx technology and a heavy use of advanced materials, it’s been experiencing numerous issues during testing that have required multiple redesigns and even grounded the 777X test fleet on multiple occasions. So in this video, we take a look at the engineering flaw inside the Boeing 777X’s GE9X engine that previously grounded test flights, the series of technical problems that have delayed the program, and why the future success of the 777X depends so heavily on this remarkable powerplant.