Davis and a team of engineers followed a process that Edison would recognize in whittling down the candidates for the new carbon fiber.  “We thoroughly tested the material at various levels from coupon testing of static, fatigue, and fracture toughness properties to component testing of fatigue and ultimate strength capability,” he says.  These test results have allowed them to select the best material for the GE9X engine. he says.

More than 700 GE9X engines have been ordered so far because of the fuel savings inherent in the composite fan blades and other advanced materials, like the tough ceramic matrix composite material that will withstand extreme temperatures in the engine’s combustor and turbine. The weight savings from all of these advances mean the GE9X fan will be lighter than its predecessor, the GE90, while also being the largest fan produced by the company. The composite fan case at the front of the engine will measure 133 inches in diameter, about the length of a compact car.

Airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, and Qatar Airways have placed orders for the 777X with GE9X powerplants, which will deliver more than 100,000 pounds of thrust.  Engineers are continuing to refine the machine’s design to optimize its aerodynamics before the design is frozen in late 2015. Flight testing is expected to begin in 2017.