PRATT & WHITNEY is to have talks with Airbus Industrie at the end of September over potential applications of its Advanced Ducted Propulsor (ADP) technology.
The move comes despite the recent signing of an exclusive agreement between Airbus and General Electric to study possible engine solutions for the stretched A340-600, long considered the most likely first application of the ADP. "There is still some interest in the ADP at Airbus", says P&W large commercial engines president, Robert Wolfe.
"We are still looking for an application and we are still receiving funding from the US Air Force on materials. The most logical use [of the ADPS] would be some sort of Airbus," says Wolfe.
The ADP is a ultra-high bypass geared turbofan offering lower fuel consumption and higher operating efficiency than similarly rated conventional turbofans. P&W has successfully tested a demonstrator based on the core of the PW2000 and using a Fiat-Avio built reduction gear system.
Source: Flight International