THE GENERAL Electric-Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance joint venture will complete definition of the GP7000 baseline design for the proposed Boeing 747-X series by the end of the year to meet an entry-into-service target of 2000 (Flight International, 4-10 September).
The partners aim to begin a 36-month development effort in January 1997 with "certification around December 1999", says co-general manager, GE's Bruce Hughes. The first engine, the GP7176, rated at 338kN (76,000lb) thrust, will be tested in the middle of 1998. The power plant is aimed primarily at the larger 747-600X variant, which is likely to be developed first.
GE's Larry Scott, first president of the alliance, believes that the GP7000 series will be superior to the rival Rolls-Royce Trent 900, with a "2-3%" fuel-consumption advantage.
The $1 billion development effort is also aimed at the Airbus Industrie A3XX series, for which a total thrust range of 310-355kN is on offer. The market size over the next 20 years is estimated to be between 700 and 1,000 aircraft.
The thrust specific fuel consumption of the new engine will be 9% below that of the engine powering the 747-400. The new engine's 2.8m-diameter hollow titanium fan will produce a bypass ratio of 7:8. The NASA-GE- derived advanced technology high-pressure compressor, will have a 23.1 pressure ratio, similar to that of the GE90.
Source: Flight International
