Engine builders are competing to supply powerplants for several business jets expected to be launched in the near future.
Honeywell has offered a new engine, the FX5, to power Dassault's FNX next-generation Falcon business jet, unveiled at the show, while Pratt & Whitney Canada is offering a 10% growth version of its PW308 turbofan.
The 6,000lb-thrust (27kN) FX5 is a geared turbofan based on a technology demonstrator core under test, and could be certificated within 36 months of a go-ahead, says Victor Valente, director business development, Honeywell Engines & Systems. The FX5 is the first in a planned family spanning 3,000- to 8,000lb-thrust. Design goals include a 20%-plus reduction in cost of ownership compared with the company's TFE731-60.
P&WC has "high expectations" of securing a launch application for its PW600 small turbofan in the near future, says president and chief executive Gilles Quimet. The unidentified application for the 2,500lb-thrust engine is a light business jet in the same class as the Cessna Citation CJ2 and Raytheon Premier I, he says.
A technology demonstrator for the 1,000- to 2,500lb-thrust PW600 will run in the fourth quarter, followed by flight testing in the first quarter of next year.
Quimet says the company hopes to secure another business jet application for its 3,000- to 5,000lb-thrust PW500 turbofan "in the next year". P&WC has an unannounced international unmanned air vehicle application for the engine, he says.
Quimet hopes to secure a launch customer "in 12-18 months" for its 10,000- to 20,000lb-thrust PW800 geared turbofan aimed at regional jets. The Advanced Fan Technology Integrator demonstrator, first run in March, is due for flight testing early next year. Certification will take 36 months from launch.
Source: Flight International
