PRATT&WHITNEYplans to run an advanced turbine for its Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) engine by the end of this month. The turbine, incorporating the company's Superblade/Supervane advanced cooling, will allow higher temperatures to increase thrust for the short-take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL)JSF, and will be tested in its CEASAR research engine.
JSF concept-demonstrator aircraft (CDAs) to be flown by Boeing and Lockheed Martin in 2000 will be powered by derivatives of the F119 developed by P&W for the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22. The new engines will run at higher temperatures. P&W recently completed a 1,000-cycle test on the baseline F119 at turbine temperatures within 40íC of that required for the CDAs, and demonstrated the life required for flight tests, says programme manager Bob Cea.
CDA engines will be based on production F119s, which will have increased temperature margin, "-giving us three or four times the life needed", he says, adding: "We have extreme confidence that we can operate the F119 core at the increased JSF temperatures."
P&W completed the preliminary design review in April, and parts for the Boeing and Lockheed Martin engines, designated SE614 and SE611, respectively, are being produced, including the integrally bladed-rotor fans, which are scaled from those on the F119. Engine assembly is to begin in October, and P&W hopes to begin ground testing in February 1998, two months ahead of schedule, Cea says.
Initial tests will be conducted in conventional take-off and landing mode, but tests in STOVL mode will begin "soon after", says Cea, with the lift-system hardware attached - direct-lift nozzles for Boeing and a shaft-driven lift fan for Lockheed Martin.
"Several" engines will be provided to Boeing and Lockheed Martin for flight-testing in 2000. Each will build two CDAs, and one team will be selected in 2001 to develop the JSF. The F119 will power development and initial-production JSFs, after which P&W will face competition from General Electric's F120 alternate engine.
Source: Flight International
