In early October, GE Aviation closed the door on an era as employees sent the most powerful version of GE’s storied CF6 engine to China Airlines. The delivery was an emotional one, for good reason: It was the last CF6-80E1 engine the company produced. The CF6 is no ordinary jet engine. GE produced more than 8,500 of them for 250 airlines in 87 countries, going back to its launch in 1971. Among the many passenger and cargo planes it powers is the U.S. president’s Air Force One Boeing 747. Yet it is hardly time to write the CF6 obituary. […]