The Most Reliable Aircraft Engine, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the aircraft engine you think is the most reliable!

Updated on May 10, 2024 06:55

Ensuring safety and efficiency in air travel hinges significantly on the reliability of aircraft engines. Passengers and airlines alike benefit greatly from engines that consistently perform well, as they are crucial in minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. Consequently, assessing which engines provide dependable service over time is more than just practical; it is a necessity for industry standards. This site allows users to cast their votes on which aircraft engines they believe are the most reliable, based on personal experiences or industry knowledge. By participating in this ranking, you contribute to a broader understanding of engine performance. This collective input helps inform decisions in aviation purchases and maintenance, making each vote an important part of shaping industry benchmarks.

What Is the Most Reliable Aircraft Engine?

1

47
votes
Pratt & Whitney PW4000

Pratt & Whitney

This engine has been praised for its reliability and durability, and has a low rate of in-flight shutdowns.
The Pratt & Whitney PW4000 is a high-thrust aircraft engine designed for large commercial aircraft. It is a popular choice among airlines for its reliability and performance.

Thrust: 52,000 - 98,000 lbf

Bypass Ratio: 5:1 - 6:1

Fan Diameter: 87 - 94 inches

Length: 170 - 213 inches

Dry Weight: 8,400 - 10,000 lbs
Pratt & Whitney PW4000 in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular jet engine
2

26
votes
BabyNuke at English Wikipedia · Public domain

General Electric CF6

General Electric Aviation

This engine has been in service for over 40 years and has a reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs.
The General Electric CF6 is a high bypass turbofan jet engine developed by General Electric Aviation. It is widely used in various commercial aircraft models and has been consistently upgraded to maintain its advanced performance.

Thrust Range: 49,000 to 63,500 pounds

Fan Diameter: 86.4 inches

Overall Pressure Ratio: 32:1

Bypass Ratio: 5.2:1

Specific Fuel Consumption: 0.54 lb/lbf/hr
3

19
votes
Julian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0

Rolls-Royce Trent

Rolls-Royce plc

This engine is known for its high fuel efficiency and low emissions, and has a good track record for reliability.
The Rolls-Royce Trent is a family of high-performance aircraft engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. These engines are widely recognized for their reliability, efficiency, and advanced technology.

Engine type: Turbofan

Thrust range: 63,000 to 97,000 pounds

Fan diameter: 112 inches

Engine length: 155 to 209 inches

Dry weight: 14,500 to 16,300 pounds
4

16
votes
David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0

CFM International CFM56

CFM International

This engine is used on many popular commercial airliners and has a reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs.
The CFM International CFM56 is a highly popular jet engine that powers various commercial aircraft. It is a product of CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric (GE) Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines. The CFM56 has been in service since the late 1970s and has gained a reputation for its reliability, efficiency, and performance.

Engine type: High-bypass turbofan

Thrust range: 18,500-34,000 pounds

Bypass ratio: 5.9:1 to 6.9:1

Overall pressure ratio: 32:1 to 37:1

Fan diameter: 61-80 inches
CFM International CFM56 in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular jet engine
5

3
votes
Jaypee · CC BY-SA 3.0

Pratt & Whitney JT9D

Pratt & Whitney

This engine was one of the first high-bypass turbofan engines and has a long track record of reliable service.
The Pratt & Whitney JT9D is a high-bypass turbofan aircraft engine. It was developed in the late 1960s and was widely used on commercial airliners such as the Boeing 747. The engine was designed to offer improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise levels compared to previous engines.

Thrust: 43,500 to 50,000 pounds

Bypass ratio: 5.2:1

Length: 272.9 inches

Diameter: 88.3 inches

Weight: 8,200 to 8,480 pounds
6

15
votes
Nimbus227 · Public domain

Rolls-Royce RB211

Rolls-Royce Limited

This engine has been in service for over 40 years and has a reputation for reliability and durability.
The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a renowned aircraft engine that was developed by Rolls-Royce Limited. It has established a reputation for reliability and efficiency since its introduction in the 1970s.

Type: Three-spool high bypass turbofan engine

Thrust: 40,000 to 60,600 pounds

Length: 150 inches

Weight: 7,570 to 8,660 pounds

Compressor: 10-stage axial
7

12
votes
David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0

General Electric GE90

General Electric

This engine is one of the most powerful commercial airliner engines and has a good track record for reliability.
The General Electric GE90 is a high-bypass turbofan aircraft engine that is widely considered one of the most popular and successful engines in the aviation industry. It is utilized primarily on wide-body airliners and has a proven track record of reliability and performance.

Thrust: Between 76,500 and 115,540 lbf

Bypass ratio: 5.5:1

Thrust-to-weight ratio: 5.77:1

Fan diameter: 128 inches

Compressor: Twin-spool, axial flow, 14-stage high-pressure compressor
General Electric GE90 in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular jet engine
8

5
votes
Bin im Garten · CC BY-SA 3.0

Pratt & Whitney PW1100G

Pratt & Whitney

This engine is one of the latest designs and features advanced technology for fuel efficiency and low emissions, with a good track record for reliability.
The Pratt & Whitney PW1100G is a high-bypass geared turbofan aircraft engine designed for commercial aviation. It is part of the PW1000G family, which offers improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and lower noise levels compared to traditional engines. The engine incorporates innovative technologies to enhance performance and reliability.

Thrust: 27,000-33,000 pounds

Bypass ratio: 12-15:1

Fan diameter: 81 inches

Takeoff thrust: 130-160 kN

Overall pressure ratio: 50:1
9

9
votes
Bernd Sieker from Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0

Rolls-Royce Trent XWB

Rolls-Royce

This engine is one of the most advanced designs with many new features for fuel efficiency and low emissions, and has a good track record for reliability.
The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB is an advanced jet engine designed for large commercial aircraft. It is a member of the Trent engine family, developed by Rolls-Royce, which is renowned for its high-performance and fuel efficiency. The Trent XWB is specifically designed for the Airbus A350 XWB series, delivering exceptional performance and reliability.

Thrust: up to 97,000 lbf

Fan diameter: 118 inches

Length: 216 inches

Weight: 12,890 lb

Bypass ratio: up to 10:1
Rolls-Royce Trent XWB in other rankings
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular jet engine
10

6
votes
Craig Sunter from Manchester, UK · CC BY 2.0

Honeywell HTF7000

Honeywell Aerospace

This engine is used on many popular business jets and has a reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs.
The Honeywell HTF7000 is a highly reliable aircraft engine designed for business jets. It is known for its performance, durability, and fuel efficiency. The engine was created by Honeywell Aerospace, a multinational company specializing in aerospace technology and equipment.

Thrust: Up to 7,624 lbf

Bypass ratio: 4.2:1

Pressure ratio: 25.5:1

Maximum continuous power: 7,000 lbf

Length: 123.3 inches

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Ranking factors for reliable aircraft engine

Service record

This includes factors such as the overall reliability of the engine over time, the number of in-flight shut-downs, and how quickly issues are resolved.
Safety record

How well the engine performs in terms of preventing accidents or incidents.
Maintenance and support

The ease and cost of servicing and maintaining the engine, as well as the availability of parts and support from the manufacturer.
Fuel efficiency

The engine's fuel consumption and how much it costs to run.
Performance

How well the engine performs in terms of power and speed.
Environmental impact

The engine's noise and emissions levels and how well it complies with environmental regulations.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most reliable aircraft engine. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or engine is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2987 views
155 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each engine once every 24 hours. The rank of each engine is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most reliable aircraft engine

When it comes to aircraft engines, reliability is absolutely essential. The last thing any airline wants is to have an engine fail mid-flight, putting passengers and crew at risk. That's why aircraft manufacturers invest heavily in developing engines that are not only powerful, but also incredibly reliable. There are many factors that contribute to the reliability of an aircraft engine. One of the most important is the materials used in its construction. Engines made from high-quality materials are less likely to suffer from corrosion, wear, or other forms of damage that can compromise their performance. Another key factor is the design of the engine itself. Engines that are well-designed are more likely to be efficient and reliable, as they are better able to withstand the stresses of flight and operate at peak performance levels. Of course, even the best-engineered engines can still experience problems from time to time. That's why regular maintenance and inspections are so important. By keeping engines in top condition, airlines can minimize the risk of unexpected failures and ensure that their planes are always ready to take to the skies.