Formal launch on the Mitsubishi Regional Jet will significantly boost Pratt & Whitney's ambitions to develop a family of GTF geared turbofans to power next-generation regional jets and single-aisle airliners.
Bombardier is to decide by mid-2008 whether to launch the CSeries, and a larger version of the GTF is the leading candidate to power the 110- to 130-seat airliner. A win on the CSeries, for service entry in 2013, and would place the GTF in a strong position to power the next-generation Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies after 2015.
P&W plans to launch development of the GTF for the MRJ in March 2008, aiming for engine certification in 2011, and is working with Mitsubishi to optimise the engine and installation, says Tom Pelland, director, next generation product family. P&W will also sign up risk-sharing partners.
Avio, MTU, Volvo Aero and Goodrich are participating in the GTF demonstrator being readied for ground and flight testing, but are not yet partners on the production engine, say Pelland. P&W is also talking to Japan's IHI, Kawasaki and Mitsubishi on participation in design and manufacture.
The GTF will be rated at 15,000-17,000lb thrust (65-75kN) on the MRJ, and based on an all-new core. P&W envisages a family of engines covering the 15,000-30,000lb-thrust range and based on two versions of the core. The CSeries needs a 23,000lb-class engine, which would have a larger core.
The two cores would be "photographically scaled", says Todd Kallman, president, commercial engines, and simultaneous development of two GTF sizes, for the MRJ and CSeries, fits the company's strategy, he says.
P&W has been working on a technology readiness programme to prepare the GTF for launch at the end of 2008, but launching on the MRJ in March 2008 is still consistent with the plan, says Kallman. "I don't see it as an acceleration. Our technology plan is very robust," he says.
Source: Flight International
