Prepares for Airbus Flight Test Program

Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1000G demonstration engine has completed the first phase of flight testing on a company-owned 747SP flying test bed.

The PW1000G engine completed 12 flights and ran approximately 43 hours with tests focused on engine performance and operability. The demonstration engine has been shipped to Toulouse, France, to be installed on an Airbus-owned A340 flight test aircraft. A joint Airbus and Pratt & Whitney flight test program will begin in the fourth quarter, as part of Airbus' on-going, extensive research into new, greener engine architectures.

"The PurePower PW1000G engine continues to perform flawlessly and has accumulated a total of 306 hours of ground and flight testing to date," said Bob Saia, Pratt & Whitney vice president, Next Generation Product Family. "The first phase of our flight test program included full power takeoffs, in-flight performance up to 40,000 feet altitude, engine operability including in-flight starting, and engine operation at extreme aircraft maneuvers. The PW1000G engine's performance has met all of our pre-flight performance targets."

The PurePower PW1000G demonstrator engine, with Pratt & Whitney's patented Geared Turbofan technology, completed a 250-hour ground test program in May. The ground test program follows thousands of hours of development testing accumulated on 16 technology rigs at Pratt & Whitney and partner facilities around the world.

"We now look forward to testing the PW1000G engine on the Airbus A340 flight test aircraft," Saia said. "This second phase of testing, which will include approximately 75 flight hours, will focus on engine performance and acoustic testing while providing valuable installation and operating data."

Airbus will be the first aircraft manufacturer to fly the PurePower PW1000G demonstrator engine on their own flight test aircraft. Test results will contribute to the company's long-term research and technology assessment of new engine configuration developments.

In 2007, Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1000G engine was selected as the exclusive power for the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the Bombardier CSeries. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet program announced its first customer in March 2008, with an order from All Nippon Airways. The CSeries was launched in July 2008 with a letter of interest for up to 60 aircraft from Lufthansa. Both aircraft are scheduled to enter service in 2013.

The PurePower PW1000G engine is an all new center-line engine that includes next generation technology in every major module. Pratt & Whitney targets double-digit reductions in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs, using a gear system that allows the engine's fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine.

FMI: www.pw.utc.com