FARNBOROUGH, England - GE's T700/CT7 engines continue to be the most popular engines in their class, with more than 12,000 produced thus far for 133 customers in 57 countries throughout the world.
The T700/T6E1 turboshaft engine, co-developed and co-produced by GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) and FiatAvio, has been selected to power the NH90 helicopter fleet of the Italian Navy. The first GE engine kit has been delivered to FiatAvio in preparation for engine qualification, which begins this month. Four more kits will be delivered this year for engines to be provided to Agusta, for NH90 flight testing scheduled to begin in 2004.
GEAE and FiatAvio, with Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) of Taiwan as a risk- and revenue-sharing participant, are also co-producing the civil variant of the T700/T6E1, the CT7-8. The newest, most powerful addition to the T700/CT7 family, the CT7-8 is the powerplant for the Sikorsky H-92 advanced medium helicopter. The CT7-8 was certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2000, and certification by the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) is currently under way. Shipment of production engines is to begin in December.
CT7-6A engines power the civil variant of the EH Industries EH101 helicopter in service with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, and T700/T6A and T700/6A1 engines power military variants of the EH101 in service with the Italian Navy and Canada's Department of National Defense.
The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) is re-engining its fleet of UH-1N helicopters with T700-401C turboshaft engines as part of its program to upgrade them to the -4BN- or UH-1Y configuration, which will be equipped with a four-blade rotor, an improved tail rotor and an increased-rating transmission. USMC AH-1W helicopters, similarly upgraded to the -4BW- or AH-1Z configuration, are currently undergoing flight testing, powered by T700-401 engines, with upgrades to the engine expected soon.
The U.S. Army's program to upgrade its fleet of UH-60A and -60L Black Hawk helicopters to the UH-60M configuration includes upgrading the aircraft's T700-GE-700 engines, using GE kits, to the more powerful and durable T700-GE-701D configuration. The T700-701D upgrade is an example of GE's continuing commitment to improve its engines through the infusion of new technologies and materials developed for its other military and commercial engines. T700-701D engines are to be delivered later this year for flight testing.
In a move to enhance maintenance of the T700 family of engines, GEAE has entered into a strategic alliance with the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) and Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) that brings together the overhaul and repair expertise of CCAD and GEAE's technical expertise as the OEM, in order to increase production rates and reduce turnaround times at CCAD and to increase the time between shop visits. As a result, last year, T700 engine turnaround time improved by 43 percent, engine output increased by 51 percent, and engine shaft horsepower (SHP) margin improved by 54 percent.
GEAE, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is the world's leading manufacturer of jet engines for civil and military aircraft, including engines produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma Moteurs of France and GE. GEAE also manufactures gas turbines, derived from its highly successful jet engine programs, for marine applications. In addition, GEAE provides comprehensive maintenance support, through its GE Engine Services operation, for GE and non-GE jet engines in service throughout the world. Visit GEAE online at: http://www.geae.com.