FARNBOROUGH, England, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW --
Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1000G demonstrator engine successfully
completed its first flight on July 11 launching a flight test program that
will run through the end of 2008. The PurePower PW1000G engine -- formerly
referred to as the Geared Turbofan(TM) engine -- flew for more than 30
minutes on Pratt & Whitney's 747SP fly test bed at the company's flight
test facility in Plattsburg, N.Y. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United
Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080714/NEM040 )
"The PurePower PW1000G engine performed flawlessly and we are excited
to build on the success of our ground testing as we begin the flight test
phase of this demonstration program," said Bob Saia, vice president, Next
Generation Product Family, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. "As airlines
face rising fuel prices and growing environmental pressures, they are
watching the development of the PW1000G engine very carefully. The engine
continues to meet or exceed all pre-test targets and we are excited to
bring this value to our customers."
The PurePower PW1000G engine flight test program will run in two
phases. The first phase will run for approximately 40 hours on Pratt &
Whitney's 747SP flying test bed. This phase will focus on engine
performance and nacelle system validation. After completing phase one, the
engine will be shipped to Airbus in Toulouse, France, and installed on an
Airbus-owned A340 flight test aircraft. Phase two, which is scheduled to
begin in the fourth quarter and include approximately 75 flight hours, will
continue engine performance and operation testing while providing valuable
installation and acoustics data.
The PurePower PW1000G 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 PurePower PW1000G 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 PW1000G engine targets double-digit reductions in fuel burn,
environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs for the next
generation of commercial aircraft. The PW1000G engine uses Geared
Turbofan(TM) technology where a state-of-the-art gear system allows 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 PurePower
PW1000G 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
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080714/NEM040
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org AP PhotoExpress
Network: PRN7 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.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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