Completion of world's largest jet engine test cell
After breaking ground at its main base in Atlanta GA (USA) nearly 18 months ago, Delta Air Lines completed the construction of the world's largest jet engine test cell this month.
Standing 14.6 m tall, with inlet and exhaust sections measuring 20.1 m and 23.8 m respectively, the first cell built by a US airline in more than 20 years is capable of safely running a mounted, stationary engine at full power with 667 kN of thrust. To compare, the airline's current test cell has a 302 kN thrust capacity.
From now on, many new, larger engine tests can be performed, including the Trent 1000, 7000 and XWB and the PW1100 and PW1500 variants of the geared turbofan.
Through expanded capabilities and new facilities, Delta expects to grow the top line of its MRO business by USD 1 billion a year in the next five years. (ah)