Pratt & Whitney Canada has begun work on a turboshaft version of its PW127 turboprop, initially to power the Mil Mi-38 helicopter to be developed by Mil, Kazan and Eurocopter.
There is no other turboshaft in the PW127T/S' class, says P&WC vice-president, marketing and international business, Joe Torchetti. The engine will produce almost 2,500kW (3,300shp) take-off power, with a maximum continuous rating of 2,200kW.
In the programme's initial phase, the Canadian company will provide engines for the Mi-38 demonstrator by modifying the PW127 turboprop. If the helicopter programme is formally launched, P&WC will proceed to development and certification of the PW127T/S.
Changes will include replacing the inlet, eliminating the propeller gearbox, redesigning the shafting, and modifying the two-stage power turbine to allow direct drive into the helicopter gearbox. The digital control system will be redesigned in the second phase of the programme, Torchetti says.
As much of the modification work as possible will be performed by P&WC's Russian subsidiary, P&W-Rus, he says. The PW127 turboprop is flying on Ilyushin's Il-114 regional airliner, and local manufacture of components and modules for the engine "is a long term vision", he says.
P&WC is studying other derivatives of the PW127T/S, including tiltrotor applications. These include a higher-power version, possibly based on the PW150turboprop, which would compete with the Rolls-Royce Allison T406 that powers the Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor. The PT6C-67, P&WC's largest turboshaft, will power the Bell Agusta BA609 tilt-rotor and the joint venture's AB139 medium twin helicopter.
Source: Flight International
