The first General Electric GEnx engines on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner came to life recently with initial engine starts. Customers for the Dreamliner can choose between the GEnx engines and the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

“This is another exciting step in our progress on the 787 test programme,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Programme, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Our partners at GE have worked diligently to ensure their engines are ready for the testing that is going to occur both before first flight of ZA005 and throughout the flight test programme.”

Following engine testing, ZA005, the fifth 787 to be built, will undergo a series of ground tests similar to those conducted on the first 787s to ensure that it is ready for first flight later this quarter.