LYNN, MA – GE Aviation commemorated delivery of its 20,000th T700/CT7 during a ceremony today at its production facility in Lynn, Massachusetts. The engine also surpassed 100 million flight hours.
T700 operators and airframers – including the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy Bell Helicopter, Sikorsky, Boeing and AgustaWestland – joined hundreds of GE employees and retirees at the celebration.
“After nearly four decades in service, the story of the T700/CT7 is still being written today – it’s remarkable how the engine continues to adapt to ever-evolving missions," said Ed Birtwell, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation’s turboshaft and turboprop engines. "Its longevity and success are only possible because of the engine's performance in the field, our great customers, and the commitment of our employees to design, manufacture, assemble, test and support the best engines in the world."
Developed for the U.S. Army to overcome the many shortcomings 1960s-era helicopter engines experienced in Southeast Asia, the T700/CT7 turboshaft was designed to operate reliably in any environment and be easily maintained. Upon service entry in 1978 in the Black Hawk, the engine quickly proved its mettle in helicopter service, and its operational benefits also made it an ideal turboprop powerplant.
Today, the T700/CT7 family of turboprop and turboshaft engines power 15 types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft with more than 130 customers in more than 50 countries.
Over the years, the T700/CT7 line has become increasingly more powerful and reliable. Many technological advances have been incorporated into the subsequent growth versions. Current models in the 2,000-3,000 shaft-horsepower range retain all the proven features and operating characteristics of earlier versions while delivering enhanced performance.
The highly reliable T700/CT7 design has proven itself in the harshest environments, logging more than five millions flight hours in hot-harsh combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. T700/CT7 helicopter engines power a variety of commercial and military applications including transport, utility and attack, medical evacuation, air rescue, special operations and marine patrol. They serve all five branches of the U.S. military and numerous international customers.
Prime turboshaft applications include the Sikorsky Black Hawk, Seahawk, Jayhawk, Pave Hawk, S-70, S/H-92, CH-148 and VIP transport helicopters; the Boeing AH-64 Apache, Bell UH-1Y Huey, AW-1Z Super Cobra,214ST Super Transport and 525 Relentless, Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite, NHIndustries NH90, AgustaWestland AW101 and AW149 and KAI Surion.
The CT7 turboprop powers the Saab 340, Airbus Military CN235 and the IAE CN235. Turboprop service experience includes regional airlines, VIP military transport, maritime patrol, electronic surveillance and utility operations.
The CT7-2E1 is the latest civil-certified addition to the family of engines to enter service and includes a full authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system and state-of-the-art hot section materials for increased power, reliability and fuel savings. More than 75 GE CT7-2E1 engines have been produced for installation on the AW189 following U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) engine certifications in 2013. More than 500 CT7-8As have been produced and are installed on more than 225 Sikorsky S-92 helicopters.
GE’s turboshaft production locations include: Lynn, MA (design, assembly, test); Rutland, VT (compressor vanes): Hookset, NH (blisks tubes, compressor vanes); Madisonville, KY (turbine blades, nozzles); Dayton, OH (tubes, brackets, ducts); Muskegon, MI (turbine shrouds, nozzles); Strother, Kansas (assembly, overhaul); Jacksonville, FL (electrical components).
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.