The jet engine that almost vanished two weeks before its dissolution

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1979, the joint venture behind the world's most widely used turbofan was two weeks away from being dissolved. No orders had arrived in five years. It took a handful of strategic re-engining contracts to save a technology that would eventually power over 5,000 Boeing 737s.

The CFM56 is a Franco-American family of high-bypass turbofan engines produced by CFM International, a 50–50 joint venture between GE Aerospace of the United States and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. While the engine is now a global staple, its origins were fraught with geopolitical tension. In 1972, the U.S. Department of State recommended rejecting the export of the core technology—derived from the military F101 engine used in the B-1 Lancer—on national security grounds. The decision, finalized by National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger in September 1972, was driven by fears that exporting strategic defense technology to France would compromise American interests.

The survival of the program relied on high-level diplomacy and strategic pivots. French President Georges Pompidou and U.S. President Richard Nixon engaged in direct appeals to resolve the impasse. An agreement was eventually reached in 1973 during a meeting in Reykjavík, predicated on the assurance that the sensitive engine core would be manufactured in the U.S. and shipped to France for assembly. The partnership also committed to reimbursing the U.S. a royalty of $80 million, based on $20,000 for every projected engine.

The engine's commercial viability was secured when airlines like United, Delta, and Flying Tigers chose to re-engine Douglas DC-8 aircraft. The CFM56's success was further cemented by its selection for the Boeing 737, where its lower noise and fuel consumption drove massive sales. Despite early technical hurdles, such as fan blade failures and issues in heavy rain, subsequent modifications stabilized the platform. Today, the engine's thrust range spans 18,500 to 34,000 lbf, and its legacy continues through

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