Enormous engines like the GE90 had to be developed to power the 777, primarily because it has two turbofans rather than four.

In the late 1940s, GE introduced the J-47 gas turbine engine, which became the most-produced jet engine of the early jet age, powering aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre and several other new fighters.

These collectively cover the spectrum of routes where the venerable quadjet once served. Each of these aircraft represents a ...