GE Aviation’s newest factories will produce raw material for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) in Huntsville, Ala.

GE Aviation’s largest turboshaft engine – the GE38-1B, designated the T408 by the US government – successfully powered the first flight of the U.S. Marine Corps’ CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter, on Tuesday, October 27.

GE Aviation announces plans to create adjacent factories in Huntsville, Alabama, to mass-produce silicon carbide (SiC) materials used to manufacture ceramic matrix composite components (CMCs) for jet engines and land-based gas turbines.

Progress continues on the GE Aviation/US Army Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) program with recent completion of component tests of the compressor, combustor and turbine.