Editing General Electric CF6 (section)

==Development==
[[File:MADRID 060508 MXALX 054.jpg|thumb|upright|A CF6 turbofan installed at [[INTA Turbojet Engine Test Centre]]]]

After developing the [[TF39]] for the [[C-5 Galaxy]] in the late 1960s, GE offered a more powerful variant for civilian use, the CF6.<ref>"Sectional drawing showing differences between the TF39 and CF6, particularly in the fan/LP compression system" https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/51747/why-does-the-cf6-have-a-lower-bypass-ratio-than-the-tf39</ref> GE quickly found interest in two designs being offered for a recent [[Eastern Airlines]] contract, the [[Lockheed L-1011]] and the [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]]. Lockheed eventually selected the [[Rolls-Royce RB211]], but the latter stuck with the CF6 and entered service in 1971. It was also selected for versions of the [[Boeing 747]]. Since then, the CF6 has powered versions of the [[Airbus A300]], [[Airbus A310|A310]] and [[Airbus A330|A330]], [[Boeing 767]], [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy|Lockheed C-5M Galaxy]], and [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]].

The high bypass of the CF6 represented a historic breakthrough in fuel efficiency.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-industry-sees-path-to-carbon-neutral-aviation-413919/ |title= Industry sees path to carbon-neutral aviation |work= Flight Global |date= 3 Jul 2015 |author= Stephen Trimble}}</ref>

By 2018, GE has delivered more than 8,300 CF6s: 480 -6s, 2,200 -50s, 4,400 -80C2s, more than 730 -80E; and 3,000 [[General Electric LM6000|LM6000]] industrial and marine derivatives.<!--<ref name=AvWeek10oct2018/>-->
The in-service fleet include 3,400 engines, more than all the [[GE90]]s and [[GEnx]], generating over 600 [[Aircraft maintenance#Engines|shop visit]]s per year.<!--<ref name=AvWeek10oct2018/>-->
GE will be delivering engines well into the 2020s and they will fly for 20 to 25 years, until 2045-50: more than 75 years since the first CF6.<ref name=AvWeek10oct2018>{{cite news |url= https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/freighter-growth-possible-124-reengining-boost-cf6-prospects |title= Freighter Growth And Possible An-124 Reengining Boost CF6 Prospects |date= Oct 10, 2018 |author= Guy Norris |work= Aviation Week & Space Technology}}</ref>

As [[express delivery]] spurs an [[air cargo]] resurgence, [[Boeing]] plans to increase the CF6-80C2-powered [[Boeing 767|767]] delivery rate from 2.5 to 3 per month in 2020, a type introduced in 1982.<!--<ref name=AvWeek10oct2018/>-->
As CF6-80E1s are still delivered for the Airbus A330 and [[Airbus A330 MRTT]], CF6 production will grow from 50 to 60-80 per year by 2020.<!--<ref name=AvWeek10oct2018/>-->
GE also studies [[Re-engine|reengining]] the [[Progress D-18]]-powered [[Antonov An-124]] freighters with [[CargoLogicAir]], a [[Volga-Dnepr]] subsidiary.<!--<ref name=AvWeek10oct2018/>-->
This would likely provide a [[range (aeronautics)|range]] increase, and Volga-Dnepr Group operates 12 aircraft, implying a 50-60 engines with [[spare part|spare]]s program.<ref name=AvWeek10oct2018/>