GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
The General Electric, Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance has begun a "significant ramp-up in engineering and manufacturing" as it moves towards the start of detailed design of the A380's GP7200 in December.
"We'll probably be fully staffed up by June and by the end of the year we'll be into detailed design," says Alliance president Lloyd Thompson. The team includes engineers from GE and P&W as well as risk and revenue partners Snecma and MTU. Snecma, working on the high pressure (HP) compressor, holds a 20% share of the GE half of the Alliance work. MTU, working on the two-stage HP turbine as part of the GE side and the low-pressure turbine with P&W, holds a combined share of around 25% of the programme.
Several rig tests are under way or planned, including a "hybrid" low-emissions single annular combustor, combining technology from the CFM56, CF6 and GE90 engines. Pratt & Whitney, responsible for the low-pressure spool, plans rig tests on a 2.61m (103in) diameter, swept fan made of hollow titanium blades, following successful tests last year on a 42% scale version. Rig tests on a full 2.94m diameter blade set for the GP7200 are set for the second half of 2003. Testing is also planned for the advanced HP turbine disc.
The engine is due to start flight tests in September 2004, with certification scheduled for July 2005.
Source: Flight International
