Thu, Nov 18, 2004
A380 Powerplant Making Progress
The Engine Alliance GP7200 engine
has reached a significant milestone on its path to certification
for the Airbus A380 by successfully conducting the FAA
‘fan-blade-out test.’
During the test, performed at Pratt & Whitney facilities in
East Hartford, Conn., one of the engine’s 116-inch diameter
fan blades was released from the fan hub by an explosive charge
while the engine ran at maximum speed equivalent to more than
82,000 pounds of thrust. The GP7200 test engine demonstrated that
it can contain the resulting damage and be safely shut down.
“The GP7200 came through with flying colors,” said
Bruce Hughes, president of the Engine Alliance. “This test is
one of the toughest an engine faces to obtain FAA certification and
the GP7200 performed beautifully, demonstrating its robust
design.”
The Engine Alliance currently has four engines in the GP7200
test program demonstrating operability, endurance and other key
requirements for engine certification. The GP7200 will fly for the
first time on the General Electric 747 flying testbed later this
year and will make its first flight on the A380 in November 2005.
Entry into service will be in October 2006 with Emirates.
The GP7200 is the market leading power plant for the Airbus A380
having secured over 60 percent of the engine orders. It benefits
from the heritage of the highly successful GE90 and PW4000
families. Building on the GE90 core and the PW4000 low-pressure
system, the GP7200 is a refined derivative with an infusion of new,
proven technologies. The engine features a hollow-titanium, swept
wide-chord fan; a five-stage low-pressure compressor; a nine-stage
high-pressure compressor and a two-stage high-pressure turbine
based on the GE90-115B; a low-emissions single annular combustor
that will meet future emissions regulations with substantial
margin; and a six-stage low-pressure turbine.
MTU of Germany, Snecma Moteurs of France and Techspace Aero of
Belgium are revenue-sharing participants in the GP7200 engine
program. The Engine Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture between GE
Transportation - Aircraft Engines and Pratt & Whitney, a United
Technologies company was formed in August 1996 to develop,
manufacture, sell, and support a family of modern-technology
engines for new high-capacity, long-range aircraft.
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