The Founders of CFM: A Shared Vision

It was a transcontinental friendship between a jet engine pioneer and French Resistance hero that led to the founding of CFM.

In the early 1970s, the respective heads of GE Aviation and Snecma (SAFRAN Group) were Gerhard Neumann, jet engine innovator, and René Ravaud, hero of the French Resistance. The two men shared the vision of an international joint venture between their companies and remained steadfast in their purpose.

In the 1960s, GE established itself as a major manufacturer of commercial jet engines, due to the success of the CF6 turbofan. This ensuing production ramp-up prompted a CF6 production agreement with Snecma (SAFRAN Group) in 1969, linking the two companies in financial and manufacturing areas.

At the same time, Snecma and GE wanted to start gaining a share of the short-to-medium range aircraft market that was dominated by low-bypass engines. This, and the mutual respect the companies had built for each other during the CF6 agreement, provided the impetus for launching a 50/50 joint venture. In 1974, this relationship became legally formalized as CFM International (CFM) and the first new CFM56 turbofan engine went to test.