Pratt & Whitney Canada tells ANN that the first development PW615F turbine engine, selected by Cessna Aircraft for its new Citation Mustang business jet, has achieved a first successful run at its rated takeoff thrust of 1,350 pounds. The engine ran for a total of eight hours and has also completed a number of performance and characterization tests.

"This first run at full takeoff thrust marks an important milestone in the PW615F development program," said Maurice Weinberg, P&WC director, Engine Development Programs - Small Turbofans. "It clears the way for the first test engine to be provided to Cessna in early 2004. We are also on track for engine certification by the end of 2005."

The PW615F is a member of P&WC's newest engine family, the PW600. Spanning the 900 to 3,000 pound thrust range, the family is designed to provide operators in the entry-level business jet and general aviation markets with optimum value and performance with significantly reduced ownership costs.

An engine demonstrator program involving the PW625F engine, of which the PW615F is a smaller model, has helped to significantly reduce development lead-time and risk by validating the concept design and providing early full and thorough knowledge about the engine's operational capabilities.

"The 2,500 pound thrust PW625F demonstrator, which completed its initial flight trials in October 2002 on P&WC's flying test bed, has provided invaluable lessons that are being applied to all members of the PW600 family," continued Mr. Weinberg. "This approach has already enabled us to achieve first run of the PW615F in an unprecedented 10 months from first design, with excellent results."

The PW610F engine, another member of the PW600 family that has been selected by Eclipse Aviation Corp. to power its Eclipse 500 jet, is currently in the design phase. The 900 pound thrust engine is scheduled to perform its first run in the second quarter of 2004 leading up to certification in the first quarter of 2006.

FMI: www.pwc.ca