GE Aerospace Vaults on Chopper Tests

GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) began Wednesday trading went airborne, after it announced the successful completion of initial ground runs for the T901 engine on a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach facility. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Improved Turbine Engine Program's Black Hawk testing."These tests mark a pivotal moment in history as the T901 engine powers the Black Hawk for the first time," said Amy Gowder, president and CEO, Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. "This achievement paves the way for a more powerful and mission-ready Black Hawk, equipping the U.S. Army with the ability to meet the growing demands of future operations."The ground runs validated the initial performance of all critical systems — including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, engine and flight control systems, and engine bay flow. Additionally, the tests acquired data from the comprehensive aircraft and engine instrumentation that will be used throughout the flight test program.Factory testing continues in parallel with this integration effort. The data gathered during these tests continues to validate that the T901 engine is on track to meet the U.S. Army's rigorous performance requirements.“The T901 is a cornerstone of the Army's modernization efforts,” read this morning’s news release, “and today's milestone underscores GE Aerospace's commitment to delivering cutting-edge propulsion technology to meet the challenges of tomorrow's missions.”GE shares had liftoff $4.60, or 2.4%, to $144.05.