GE Aviation was planning to "freeze" the design of its Passport 20 turbofan engine for the Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 large-cabin, ultra-long-range business jets by the end of April, pending a successful "tollgate 6" critical design review.
The engine is designed to produce a maximum take-off thrust of 16,500lb (70kN) and provide fuel savings of 8% compared with the Rolls-Royce BR725 that powers the only competitor in the sector - the Gulfstream G650.
The Passport 20 has a 132cm (52in) diameter, 18-blade titanium fan blisk, three-stage booster, 10-stage HPC with blisks for the first four stages, an annular combustion chamber, two-stage high-pressure turbine and four-stage low-pressure turbine.
 |
|---|
© Bombardier |
The company plans to begin building the first of eight test engines by the end of the year, with first engine to test planned for the second quarter of 2013 and certification some time in 2015.
Bombardier hopes to have the Global 7000 in service in 2016 and the Global 8000 in 2017.
Source: Flight International
