GE's Business and General Aviation group plans to have a 10,000-20,000lb thrust engine (45-89kN) core up and running next year and a demonstrator complete in 2012 in its effort to leverage technology investments developed for its commercial engines to gain market share in the sector.
Brad Mottier, vice-president and general manager of the operation, says many of the new technologies will come from GE's eCore programme aimed at developing a powerplant with 15-20% less operating costs for the next-generation single-aisle Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 replacement aircraft. Included is the twin-annular, pre-mixed, "swirler" (TAPS) combustor technology created for the GEnx engine for the Boeing 787, as well as new materials.
The entry will further heat up competition among GE and its four competitors in the super-midsize and large-cabin market, where 10,000lb-class engines are expected to dominate for decades. Rolls-Royce earlier this year predicted a demand for $40 billion in engines for the sector in the next 20 years and new competitor Snecma says 10,000 engines may be needed for as many as 6,000 new aircraft in the 10,000lb thrust range in the same period.
All five manufacturers are likely to be involved in ongoing competitions for super-midsize aircraft, possibly from Bombardier and Embraer, the second of which could be announced by year- end. R-R won the first round in June 2007 with its RB282 offering for the Dassault SMS, beating Honeywell's HTF10000, GE's contender, probably a CF34 variant, Pratt & Whitney's PW800-series and the Silvercrest, Snecma's first solo engine effort outside CFM, its 50/50 joint venture with GE for 737 engines.
Although starting at a deficit with no existing business aviation engine line, Snecma has quickly gained ground by developing and running a core demonstrator, part of a $100 million research and development effort. Along with working with several airframers on new programmes, the company is also in preliminary talks with supply chain vendors.
Meanwhile, P&W is continuing its detailed design work for its PW810, an 8,830lb-thrust engine for the Cessna Citation Columbus. The company's 10,000lb engine is expected to be a scaled-up version of the PW810, which is capable of achieving 15,000lb. P&W plans first test of the PW810 next year and has selected 80% of its supplier base. Honeywell similarly plans to scale up its HTF7000 engine, which powers the Bombardier Challenger 300, for the 10,000lb application.
Source: Flight International
