Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has started flight tests of the PW617F engine on its Boeing 720B flying testbed for Embraer's Phenom 100 very light jet (VLJ).
The PW617F is rated at 1,695lb (7.5kN) thrust and is the largest production version of the PW600 family to date, although smaller than the baseline 2,500lb thrust PW625F demonstrator that led the development in 2001.
The PW617F, which was selected by Embraer for the Phenom 100 in May 2005, made its first run at P&WC's test site in Mississauga, Ontario on 29 June 2006 and certification is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2007. Although internally identical to the smaller PW610F/615F versions, the Embraer variant has a larger 45cm (17.6in) fan diameter.
A total of 40 production PW600s have so far been delivered from the company's new assembly plant at Longueuil, Quebec, with a steeper ramp-up expected in 2007 when some 500 engines are scheduled to be handed over.
The bulk of these will be PW610Fs for Eclipse Aviation, with the majority of the balance being PW615Fs going to Cessna for its Mustang.
The first PW716F-powered Phenom 100 is due to fly in the first quarter of next year, the Brazilian manufacturer having cut metal on the first pre-series aircraft at the end of May this year. Embraer says the line is sold out until 2010, despite the manufacturer's decision earlier this year to increase the very light jet's production rate.
Although the first Phenom 100 parts have been produced at Embraer's Sao Jose dos Campos plant, final assembly of the six-seat VLJ will be performed at Gaviao Peixoto and the first customer aircraft is due to be delivered in mid-2008.
Source: Flight International
