FARNBOROUGH, England, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW --
Airbus and Pratt & Whitney engineers are preparing an Airbus-owned A340
flight test aircraft for Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan engine, which is
scheduled to begin flight testing in Toulouse, France, in the fourth
quarter. Airbus and Pratt & Whitney will partner on flight testing a
technology demonstrator of the Geared Turbofan engine, Pratt & Whitney's
next generation product that targets double-digit improvements in fuel
burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs. The Airbus
testing will follow Pratt & Whitney's own ground and flight test program.
Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
"We are delighted to partner with Airbus on flight testing the Geared
Turbofan engine," said Todd Kallman, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial
Engines. "Testing the Geared Turbofan engine throughout its entire
operating envelope using the Airbus A340 flight test aircraft, combined
with the tremendous experience of the Airbus flight test team, will provide
us with valuable installation and operating data to further evaluate the
performance of this new engine architecture."
The joint Airbus and Pratt & Whitney flight test program will follow
approximately 40 flight hours on Pratt & Whitney's 747SP flying test bed.
The A340 flight testing, which will include approximately 75 flight hours,
will focus on engine performance and acoustic testing while providing
valuable installation and operating data.
Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine completed a 250
hour ground test program in May. The ground testing focused on engine
performance, design validation and ground-level acoustic testing with a
flight-capable nacelle system. The ground test program is in addition to
thousands of hours of development testing accumulated on 16 technology rigs
at Pratt & Whitney and partner facilities around the world.
In 2007, Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan engine was selected as the
exclusive power for the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the proposed
Bombardier CSeries. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet program announced its first
customer on March 28, 2008, with an order from All Nippon Airways. The
CSeries program is expected to launch later this year. Both aircraft are
scheduled to enter service in 2013.
The Geared Turbofan engine uses a state-of-the-art gear system to allow
the engine's fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure
compressor and turbine. The result is a step-change improvement in fuel
efficiency and a slower fan speed for much lower noise. The Geared Turbofan
engine is an all new centerline engine that includes next generation
technology in every major module.
Pratt & Whitney has over 16,000 aircraft engines installed with
hundreds of airlines around the world. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney is a
leading participant in two joint venture companies that manufacture
commercial aircraft engines: International Aero Engines, which makes the
V2500 for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, and the Engine Alliance,
whose GP7200 engine is FAR 33 certified for the new Airbus A380.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and
service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas
turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified
company providing high technology products and services to the global
aerospace and building industries.
This release includes "forward looking statements" concerning future
business opportunities and other matters involving this engine that are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in
forward looking statements include changes in the health of the global
economy and the strength of end market demand in the aerospace industry; as
well as company specific items including the ability to achieve cost
reductions at planned levels; challenges in the design, development,
production and support of advanced technologies including this engine, and
new products including the engine discussed in this press release; and
delays and disruption in delivery of materials and services from suppliers.
For information identifying other important economic, political,
regulatory, legal, technological, competitive and other uncertainties, see
UTC's SEC filings as submitted from time to time, including but not limited
to, the information included in UTC's 10-K and 10-Q Reports under the
headings "Business," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Cautionary Note
Concerning Factors that May Affect Future Results," as well as the
information included in UTC's Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Matthew Perra Jennifer Whitlow
Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines Pratt & Whitney
Int'l Mobile: +1.860.595.6515 Int'l Mobile: +1.860.214.7502
matthew.perra@pw.utc.com jennifer.whitlow@pw.utc.com
SOURCE Pratt & Whitney
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Related links:
http://www.pratt-whitney.com
CONTACT:
Matthew Perra, Pratt & Whitney Commercial
Engines, Int'l Mobile: +1-860-595-6515, matthew.perra@pw.utc.com,
or Jennifer Whitlow, Pratt & Whitney, Int'l Mobile:
+1-860-214-7502, jennifer.whitlow@pw.utc.com
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