East Hartford, CT -- The GE-P&W Engine Alliance's GP7200 engine has produced more than the 76,500 pounds of thrust required for entry into service on the Airbus A380 aircraft during its initial testing. The engine reached 80,000 pounds of thrust at Pratt & Whitney's test facility in East Hartford, CT. In addition, the mechanical break-in cycle of the engine testing was complete, and mechanical stress levels were satisfactory.
The second and third test engines are in final assembly at Pratt & Whitney's manufacturing facility in Middletown, CT. The second engine will begin ground testing later this month at GE Aircraft Engines' testing facility near Peebles, OH.
The GP7200 engine is the best-selling propulsion system for Airbus' new four-engine A380 aircraft. It has been selected for 67 of the 110 aircraft ordered with the engines specified. Emirates, Air France, FedEx, and International Lease Finance Corporation have selected the GP7200 engine for their A380 fleets, resulting in firm orders for almost 300 engines, valued at more than $3 billion.
Prior to service entry in 2006, the GP7200 program plans to accumulate more than 20,000 endurance cycles and 7,000 hours of operation on eight test engines, exceeding the standards set by previous engines qualified for Extended Twin-Engine Operations (ETOPS). First flights of the GP7200 on GE's 747 Flying Testbed aircraft are scheduled to begin in September. Engine certification is targeted for mid-2005, with entry into revenue service powering A380-800 aircraft of Emirates scheduled for 2006.
The GP7200 engine family will be certified at 81,500 pounds (363 kN) of thrust with potential for growth up to 84,000 pounds (374 kN).
The GP7200 benefits from the heritage of the highly successful GE90 and PW4000 families. Building on the GE90 core and the PW4000 low-pressure system, the GP7000 is a refined derivative with an infusion of new, proven technologies. The engine features a hollow-titanium swept wide-chord fan; a five-stage low-pressure compressor; a nine-stage high-pressure compressor and a two-stage high-pressure turbine scaled from the GE90-115B; a low-emissions single annular combustor that will meet future emissions regulations with substantial margin; and a six-stage low-pressure turbine.
MTU of Germany, Snecma Moteurs of France and Techspace Aero of Belgium are revenue-sharing participants in the GP7200 engine program.
The GE-P&W Engine Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aircraft Engines and Pratt & Whitney, was formed in August 1996 to develop, manufacture, sell, and support a family of modern-technology engines for new high-capacity, long-range aircraft.