Navy CFM Engine Marks 19,655 Hours

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A CFM56-2A-2 engine has flown 19,655 hours on the wing of an E-6 before its first removal, surpassing the old mark of 15,000 hours and setting a military aviation record, according to the official newspaper of Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. The engine was maintained regularly throughout its life on the aircraft, but its most recent maintenance was the first ever to require its removal. The Strategic Communications Wing ONE recently celebrated the milestone with an official ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base with representatives from Navy leadership and CFM International. Rear Admiral Mark Skinner told those in attendance that the engine has served the fleet for the last 20 years. The hours flown represent more than six million miles traveled, or enough service to take its aircraft around the world about 250 times. The fleet of engines has, according to FlightGlobal.com, served without in-flight shutdowns over 489,000 hours and 163,000 cycles, and has had only one other removal since 1996. In other words, it’s possible the new record-holder could ultimately prove to be among the least impressive of the crop.

As for the current record-holder, Eric Bachelet, president of CFM International, noted that the Berlin Wall was still standing when the engine was produced and many members of the team who removed it were just entering preschool when the powerplant was first mated to its E-6’s wing.

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