GEOFF THOMAS
The multi-billion-dollar 'fight to the death' between the world's three major commercial engine suppliers to supply the powerplant for the Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner is rapidly coming to an end.
A decision is expected around mid-year - but possibly as early as April.
Sweating
With Phase 4 of the contest well under way, GE, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney are sweating on Boeing's decision, which the company says could yet feature one or two engine types and one or two manufacturers.
But whatever the final choice, one or two of the engine companies will be out in the cold - and doubtless hoping that Boeing falls flat in its latest attempt to thwart Airbus's inexorable march toward world domination.
Boeing's Phase 4 requirements document outlines two distinct engines - one in the 55,000-60,000lb (245-267kN) thrust range for the shorter range 7E7s and a 70,000lb-plus version for the stretched airframe.
There was a flurry of excitement at the Dubai airshow in December when Airbus questioned whether potential Japanese funding for the 7E7 would be fair and legal.
So it's somewhat ironic that Japanese industry looks likely to be the only confirmed winner at this stage in the engines contest.
Whichever of the world's big three powerplant producers come out on top, Japanese investment is likely to be a crucial part of the project as the aircraft has already won 'national project status'.
Loans
This ensures that government loans - at commercial rates - will be available.
GE is thought to be proposing a GE90-based powerplant - with different fan sizes - while the P&W offering is based around core technology from the F119 military engine. For its two proposals, Rolls-Royce is thought to be going about things differently by scaling the core rather than the fan.
Source: Flight Daily News
