GE Propulsion Test Platform

General Electric's "Propulsion Test Platform" N747GF (c/n 23655, l/n 1024) is doing warm weather engine testing out of KOA during the week of 09 December 2019.

23655's History:

Mar 1994: Delivered to Japan Airlines as JA8910.

Mar 2010: Withdrawn from service and stored at HND for nine months.

Dec 2010: Acquired by AerSale, registered as N356AS, and ferried to ROW, then VCV for storage.

Jan 2011: Acquired by General Electric to use as a testbed.

Dec 2011: Re-registered as N747GF.

New Livery For N747GE

General Electric's 747-121 testbed, N747GE (c/n 19651, l/n 25) is returning from three months of maintenance at XMN, and is sporting a new livery. The aircraft engine testbed stopped through HNL this past September.

General Electric's Engine Testbed

General Electric's engine testbed arrived from its home-base in Victorville, California this morning. After resting for the night, N747GE (s/n 19651, l/n 25) will depart for Guam in the morning. Unfortunately, N747GE flew in with its four factory equipped Pratt and Whitneys.

Despite being 45 years old, this 747-121 has only been with two operators. It originally was delivered to Pan Am as N744PA in March, 1970. It managed to remain with the company until Pan Am ceased operations in December, 1991. General Electric then purchased it in March, 1992 and refurbished it to be used as the company's engine testbed.  

General Electric's N747GF

General Electric's new 747-400 engine testbed, N747GF (c/n 26355, l/n 1055), is making a trip from VCV to HNL today. The former JAL 747-446, JA8910, was acquired by the engine manufacturer in December 2010. N747GF replaces N747GE, the original GE 747-121 testbed. The 747-446 left for XMN the next morning.

Mahalo to team member Aeros for for the above photo N747GF, still wearing the rising sun motif (sans JAL titles).

The only photo JA8910 (in the 1990s livery), I have, is this 2005 photo of it rotating on Runway 8R for its return to Japan.