Two new applications for Pratt & Whitney Canada's (P&WC) best-selling PT6 turboprop/turbo shaft engine have been announced in 1996. The PT6B-37 turbo shaft has been selected by Agusta for its A119 Koala single-engined helicopter. Certification of the PT6B-37 is scheduled for late-1996, with production engine deliveries beginning during early 1997.
The 745kW engine has an automatic fuel control with manual over-ride, and a new, offset reduction gear box rated at 670kW. Initial and mature time-between-overhauls will be 3,000 and 3,500h, respectively, P&WC claims. The PT6C-65 turbo shaft, a derivative of the PT6A-65/67 turboprop, has been chosen by PZL-Swidnik to power the latest version of its W-3 Sokol twin-engined, multi-purpose helicopter.
The PW150A turboprop, selected to power the Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8-400 Series 400, had its first test-cell run in June, and is on course for certification in June 1998.
The latest version of the PW100 family, the PW150A is rated at 4,850-5,600kW, and has a new three-stage axial low-pressure compressor and a single-stage, centrifugal high-pressure compressor. Also included are a redesigned combustion system, additional turbine cooling and a high-power, low-speed reduction gearbox.
Among other developments, the first PW206B turbo shaft-powered Eurocopter EC135 was delivered in August. In June, Bell announced the selection of the PW206D as the power plant for its new light twin-engined helicopter, the Model 427.
The PW530A turbofan, powering the Cessna Citation Bravo business jet, gained US Federal Aviation Administration certification in April, and the first production engines were delivered in June. The first flight of the PW545A-powered Citation Excel took place in February, and engine certification is scheduled to take place in December.
Source: Flight International
