GE Aerospace reported that its carbon fiber polymer matrix composite fan blades, first introduced on the GE90 engine in 1995, have accumulated more than 300 million flight hours across commercial engine platforms. The company said the GE90 replaced titanium fan blades with 22 composite blades to reduce engine weight and support a 128-inch fan diameter. GE Aerospace said the GE9X engine for the Boeing 777X uses 16 composite fan blades and a 134-inch fan diameter, enabled in part by 3D design improvements. Nicholas Kray, chief consulting engineer for composite design at GE Aerospace, said the composite fan blade has improved durability compared with titanium predecessors. GE Aerospace said its composite development is informing the CFM RISE open-fan demonstrator program, which targets at least a 20% fuel-efficiency improvement versus current commercial engines.

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