Tue, May 10, 2011
Europrop's TP400 The First Large Turboprop Mill Approved By The
Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted a type
certificate to EPI Europrop International(EPI) for the TP400-D6
engine that powers the A400M military transport aircraft. It is the
first large turboprop engine to have been certified by EASA, and
the first military engine to have been certified by EASA to civil
standards from the outset.
Certification completes airworthiness approvals by EASA and is
the result of an intensive series of safety, endurance and
performance tests. Since the first engine run in late 2005 the
TP400 has completed all major development testing, as well as
achieving over 12,000 running hours, around 8,000 of which have
come during the A400M flight test programme.
During development testing the engine demonstrated exceptional
performance operating at sea-level and altitude conditions. It also
proved its ability to cope with bird strike, ice and water
ingestion. Testing was undertaken at a variety of open air, indoor
and altitude facilities at six locations across Europe -
Ludwigsfelde in Germany, Istres and Saclay in France, Ajalvir and
Moron in Spain and Liers in Belgium. In addition, engine
integration and initial in-flight performance was also tested on an
Airbus Military Flying Test Bed aircraft at Marshall Aerospace in
the UK.
"This marks a significant and positive milestone in the
development of the world's most advanced turboprop engine,"
saidSimon Henley, President of Europrop International. "The TP400
has demonstrated its excellent performance through a series of
intensive bench and flight test programmes and we are more
confident than ever that it will bring a significant improvement in
operational capability to customers when it enters service in the
A400M. In the meantime, we continue to concentrate our efforts on
supporting the A400M flight test programme, where we have now
achieved over 500 flights and the engine is demonstrating excellent
levels of performance".
"Certifying the TP400 has presented a series of unique
challenges due to the high power of the engine and the leading-edge
technology that is incorporated within its design; technology which
has enabled it to meet all its performance and weight goals," said
EPI Technical Director Martin Maltby. "Today's achievement is a
testament to the innovation and dedication of the teams from EPI
and its parent companies and to the support of EASA and our
customer, Airbus Military."
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