Evendale, Ohio / E. Hartford, Connecticut - Air France has launched the advanced GP7200 engine on the new Airbus A380-800 with an order for engines to power 10 firm aircraft scheduled to begin delivery in fourth quarter 2006. The value of the order, including option and spare engines, is nearly $900 million.
"We are extremely pleased with this order," said Lloyd Thompson, president of the GE-P&W Engine Alliance. "We've been developing this engine since 1996, and we have all of the elements of a truly great powerplant. The GP7200 will provide Air France with industry-leading fuel efficiency and reliability and the best overall cost of ownership on the A380."
The GP7200 core, which is a scaled version of that being developed for the GE90-115B, recently completed its second full-scale test, meeting all performance requirements and exceeding projected operability characteristics. Another build is planned for testing in 2002.
Successful testing of a 42 percent scaled GP7200 swept wide chord fan was recently completed at Pratt & Whitney facilities in Longueuil, Quebec. The tests validated performance improvements of the 3-D aerodynamic design.
"Completion of the GP7200 core and swept fan tests solidifies our confidence that the GP7200 will meet or exceed all performance requirements for the A380 aircraft," said Thompson.
The next phase of development will start in early 2003 when the Engine Alliance begins detailed design work, leading to the first full engine test in early 2004. The GP7200 is scheduled for joint U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European Joint Airworthiness Authorities certification in mid-2005. First flight of the GP7200-powered A380 is scheduled for early 2006, with aircraft certification and entry into service planned for the end of that year.
The A380 has a capacity of up to 555 passengers in a three-class configuration and a range of up to 8,000 nautical miles. The GP7200 will be certified at 81,500 pounds takeoff thrust to meet potential aircraft growth requirements. The engine is initially being offered at three ratings: the GP7268, the GP7270, and the GP7277 and will enter service with Air France at the GP7270 (70,000 pound) rating.
In addition to GE and Pratt & Whitney, MTU of Germany and Snecma Moteurs of France are revenue-sharing participants in the GP7200 engine program.