Pratt & Whitney passed one of the most important milestones in its long history as the much-heralded PurePower PW1000G took to the skies last month. Formally known as the Geared Turbofan, or GTF, the PW1000G demonstrator flew on a Boeing 747SP testbed from the company’s Plattsburgh, N.Y. test facility, where engineers have validated various modes of operation and evaluated the electronic control logic that manages engine response times and characteristics. According to Pratt & Whitney, all indications point to a smooth transition from 20 years of study into a real-world model of efficiency from which the world’s airlines will reap benefits for decades.
“The engine is running really well,” said Pratt & Whitney next generation product family vice president Bob Saia. “The GTF modules that we have on this engine are meeting or exceeding the commitment levels we have made to [launch customer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries] and Bombardier.”
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