Subscription Required

By Bjorn Fehrm

Introduction

September 22, 2022, © Leeham News: With the introduction of the High Bypass engine for the Boeing 747, Douglas DC-10, and Lockheed Tristar, it was obvious Pratt & Whitney’s low bypass engines on the Boeing 707, 727, 737, and Douglas DC-8, -9 should be attacked with a new High Bypass engine in this thrust class.

French Snecma and GE teamed up to break Pratt & Whitney’s monopoly of the jet engine market outside the widebodies. The CFM56 was born.

Figure 1. The Boeing 737-300, the breakthrough for the CFM56 engine. Source; Wikipedia.

Summary

• With an exclusive fit on the Boeing 737 and a 10-year introduction advantage on the A320, the CFM56 has dominated over the competing IAE V2500.
• The CFM56 is the world’s most produced jet engine, with over 32,000 engines produced to date.