Thu, Mar 01, 2007
A Next-Gen Powerplant For A Next-Gen Chopper
The latest iteration of Helicopter Association International's
annual Heli-Expo doesn't even officially kick off until Thursday...
and already, we're seeing some major advancements coming from some
big names in the helicopter industry.
On Wednesday, Pratt & Whitney Canada told ANN the
enginemaker's new-generation PT6C-67E engine will power the
upcoming EC175/Z15 medium-sized helicopter, being developed by
Eurocopter and Harbin Aviation Industry Group, a subsidiary of
China's AVIC II corporation. As Aero-News reported, the
EC175 (shown below) was first announced during Heli-Expo 2005.
"This is a great program for our PT6C-67E engine," said Keyvan
Fard, Vice President, Regional Airlines & Helicopter Engines,
P&WC. "This engine is now equipped with a dual-channel
full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system, which
offers reduced pilot workload along with increased dispatch
reliability."
The PT6C-67E is the latest derivative of the increasingly
omnipresent PT6 turboprop/turboshaft family. Agusta Westland's
AW139 helicopter and the upcoming Bell/Agusta Aerospace BA609
Tiltrotor also employ variants of the PT6C-67 family of
engines.
"The PT6C series, rated from 1,600 to 2,000 shp, is designed
with the operator in mind," says Fard. "It also offers among the
lowest maintenance costs and emission levels in the industry. As is
the case with all our engines, it is backed by P&WC's extensive
global customer support network, ranked No. 1 for helicopter engine
support by the industry for the last seven years."
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