First Customer Engine Assembly

First Customer Engine Assembly of an UltimateL39 Engine Package

Now that development platform, N430J or Grey, has been delivered to its new owner, we have fully focused our efforts in making our first customer engine assembly delivery.

The following pictures chronicle the assembly process. It starts with the motor hanging from a cherry picker as the jet nozzle is attached. Next, the hot section thermocouples and N1 monopole leads are run up along side the smaller HP bleed line and through the aluminum portion of the post fan ducting. Note the bespoke core hanger elements on either side of the HP bleed air tubing. Additional pictures are provided further down. This bleed air tubing is modified to support the motor resident HP bleed control valve and HP/LP mixing manifold. The exhaust tube is fabricated using an assembly fixture to ensure proper fit. Green sheets are added. The tail cone is fabricated, also using an appropriate fixture. Front motor mounts are added along with the carbon composite fan duct and air inlet cone. The assembly is then placed on the engine installation fixture to allow better access to components on the bottom of the motor. The additions include wiring for the custom sensors and adding the throttle linkage. The raw aluminum fabricated components like the tail pipe and tail cone are given an epoxy primer coat with the customer left to choose a final finish or simply just leave the components in Boeing green. Our traditional engine stands have a modified pair of uprights to accept the L39 front roller system and some support rods are added to attach to the motor's rear mounts. The whole assembly rolled neatly onto Shane of FMC's trailer for the drive back to Alabama.