See which Boeing and Embraer aircraft use GE or CFM engines, with exact 737, 747, 767, 777, 787 and E-Jet variants plus key exceptions.
Among mainstream commercial jets, Boeing uses CFM engines on the 737 Classic, Next Generation and MAX families, and GE engines on variants of the 747, 767, 777 and 787. Embraer uses GE CF34 engines on first-generation E-Jets—the E170, E175, E190 and E195—but no production Embraer family uses CFM engines.
For our Aviation & Real-World Flying coverage, we separate GE Aerospace engines from CFM International engines. They are related companies, but GE90, GEnx and CF34 are GE products, while CFM56 and LEAP are CFM products.
Which Boeing airliners use GE or CFM engines?
Boeing’s 737 families use CFM engines, while its larger wide-body aircraft account for most GE-powered Boeing variants.
| Boeing family | GE or CFM engine | Variants and qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| 737 Classic | CFM56-3 | The 737-300, -400 and -500 use the CFM56-3 as their sole production engine family. |
| 737 Next Generation | CFM56-7B | The 737-600, -700, -800 and -900 families, including their major derivatives, are CFM56-7B powered. |
| 737 MAX | LEAP-1B | The MAX -7, -8, -9 and -10 family is designed exclusively around the CFM LEAP-1B. |
| 747 | CF6 or GEnx-2B | The 747-200 and -300 offered CF6-50 variants, while the 747-400 offered the CF6-80C2. The 747-8 uses the GEnx-2B exclusively. |
| 767 | CF6-80A or CF6-80C2 | GE engines appear across the 767-200, -300, -300F and -400ER families. Pratt & Whitney and, on some 767-300ERs, Rolls-Royce engines are alternatives. |
| 777 | GE90 or GE9X | The original 777-200, -200ER and -300 offered GE90 engines alongside other choices. The 777-200LR, -300ER and 777F use GE90 engines exclusively; the 777X family is designed exclusively for the GE9X. |
| 787 Dreamliner | GEnx-1B | The 787-8, -9 and -10 can use the GEnx-1B, although Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines are the other certified choice. |
A common mistake is to describe every 737 as CFM-powered. The 737-100 and -200 use Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines; CFM arrived with the 737-300. Our dash-number comparison of the 737 Classic variants explains how the CFM56-3 installation differs across the -300, -400 and -500.
The broad aircraft name is not always enough. A 777-200ER may have GE90, Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines, while every 777-300ER is GE90-powered. Likewise, a 787 may have GEnx or Trent engines; our 787 simulator package with GEnx-configured variants provides a representative GE installation.
Which Embraer aircraft use GE engines?
Only the first-generation Embraer E-Jet family and its Lineage derivative use GE engines among Embraer’s principal production families.
| Embraer aircraft | GE engine family | Engine distinction |
|---|---|---|
| E170 and original E175 | CF34-8E | These are the smaller first-generation E-Jets, often called E1 aircraft when distinguishing them from E2 models. |
| E190 and E195 | CF34-10E | The larger first-generation E-Jets use the more powerful CF34-10E family. |
| Lineage 1000 and 1000E | CF34-10E | This corporate aircraft is derived from the E190 and retains its GE engine family. |
For a recognisable simulator example, this E190-LR model with its CF34-10E configuration represents the larger first-generation E-Jet installation.
Do Embraer E2 or ERJ aircraft use CFM engines?
No production Embraer aircraft family uses a CFM56 or LEAP engine.
- E175-E2: designed for the Pratt & Whitney PW1700G geared turbofan.
- E190-E2 and E195-E2: powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1900G.
- ERJ 135, ERJ 140 and ERJ 145: powered by Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engines, not GE CF34s.
- C-390 Millennium: uses the International Aero Engines V2500-E5, which is not a CFM product.
The similar names cause errors: an original E175 has GE CF34 engines, but the E175-E2 belongs to a different generation with Pratt & Whitney geared turbofans.
Is CFM the same company as GE?
CFM International is a separate joint company owned equally by GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.
That is why a CFM56 or LEAP engine is sometimes informally grouped under “GE”, but its correct manufacturer and product branding are CFM. By contrast, CF34, CF6, GE90, GEnx and GE9X are directly branded GE engine families.
How can you identify the engine on a specific aircraft?
The full aircraft variant and operator configuration are more reliable than the family name alone.
- Read the complete subtype: 737-200, 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 identify three different engine generations.
- Check the individual operator configuration: early 777s, most pre-747-8 variants, 767s and 787s may have more than one certified engine choice.
- Match the simulator model, not just its livery: changing a repaint does not replace nacelles, sounds, performance data or cockpit indications. A GE-painted livery applied to a Rolls-Royce-modelled aircraft remains the wrong engine variant.
- Do not rely on size or chevrons alone: closely related nacelles can look similar from a distance, and some airframes were designed around multiple engine makes.
What about Boeing military aircraft?
Several Boeing military derivatives also use GE or CFM engines, but their exact version matters.
- KC-135R and KC-135T tankers use the CFM56-2, designated F108 by the US military, while older KC-135 versions used other engines.
- The E-6 Mercury and selected E-3 variants use CFM56-2 engines.
- The C-40, P-8 and E-7 are 737 derivatives powered by versions of the CFM56-7B.
- Boeing’s F/A-18E/F and EA-18G use the GE F414, the T-7A uses the GE F404, and some F-15 variants use the GE F110. Other versions and Boeing military programmes use different manufacturers.
DC-10 and MD-11 aircraft can also carry GE CF6 engines, but they are McDonnell Douglas designs rather than Boeing-designed aircraft, despite Boeing’s later acquisition of McDonnell Douglas.