Pratt & Whitney chief Karl Krapek yesterday defended his company's new geared turbofan product against rival accusations that it is based on old technology.
Giving details of the newly-launched PW8000, an engine for narrowbody markets in the next century, Krapek says: "I take exception to comments about this being based on 35-year-old technology.
"This is the first time where we have unlinked a fan from the low-pressure spool."
Geared
Previously, Rolls-Royce chairman Sir Ralph Robins remarked that his company had produced a geared-fan engine back in the 1960s.
Other engine manufacturers are also getting aggressive about the P&W powerplant. CFM International, which is the exclusive supplier on Boeing 737s and holds 65% of the overall narrowbody market, says it remains confident of continued success.
"We will not let another take three-quarters of the market as we did to Pratt & Whitney," says CFM president Gerard Laviec.
Source: Flight Daily News
