AlliedSignal's next generation AS907 business aircraft and regional engine will begin test runs in mid-1999, says the company as it completes negotiations with risk and revenue partners on the $300 million development programme.
The AS907 is the first member of a new engine family that was formerly launched with its selection by Bombardier for the Continental super mid-size business jet. All the major partners in the programme are expected to be in place by the time AlliedSignal conducts its critical design review in the first quarter of 1999.
The company is seeking a 30-35% stake from its partners, the first of which is the company's International Turbine Engine associate, AIDC. The Taiwan-based company will have responsibility for developing the 855mm-diameter wide-chord fan, worth 14% of the overall programme by value. Other partners have been signed up, or are in final negotiations for the remaining areas, which include the three-stage low pressure turbine, accessory gearbox and integrated powerplant system.
Flight tests of the engine, mounted on the company's Boeing 720 testbed, are set for the first quarter of 2000, with US certification expected roughly a year later. The effort will involve 11 development engines, 10,000 test hours and 50,000 accelerated mission cycles prior to entry into service. First production engine delivery to Bombardier is set for the second quarter of 2001.
AlliedSignal has also detailed the projected growth path for the first time. The baseline AS907 will be rated at 7,595lb (33.8kN) thermodynamic thrust, but will be flat rated to 6,500lb for the Continental. The engine will be certified with a further 5% thrust capability to provide margin for instant growth, if needed. For the longer term, the full development plan sees potential variants up to 8,500-9,000lb thrust. This will partly be achieved with the use of single crystal, temperature resistant alloys not used in the first version for cost reasons. More low pressure compressor booster stages as well as a four stage LP turbine module and a larger diameter fan will also be added to increase thrust by as much as 25% over the first engine.
Source: Flight International
