Since 1986 Harry Weisberger has been a contributor to Aviation International News and a regular member of its HAI and NBAA convention news editorial staff. He was previously a marketing communications specialist for Sperry Flight Systems in Phoenix, providing information involving the general aviation, airline, defense and space market segments. His aviation journalism activity has also included writing and editing for Flight Training, Business Aviation Safety Journal, Private Pilot and Arizona Flyways (for whom he interviewed Barry Goldwater and Paul Tibbets. He has also contributed to Smithsonian Air &amp; Space and Aero magazines. He served 5-1/2 years on active duty with the U.S. Navy as a radar intercept officer in F4 Phantom jet fighters, followed by Naval Air Reserve duty as a patrol plane navigator. Weisberger’s journalism career began at the Santa Ana Register (now Orange County Register) where he was a beat reporter and copy desk editor. He holds a commercial pilot license with instrument rating, has logged 1,980 pilot hours and has owned or been a partner in five general aviation aircraft.

Contributor

Harry Weisberger

Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada (PWC) has successfully completed the maiden flight of its PW617F engine, selected to power the Embraer Phenom 100 very light jet (VLJ). 

The four-hour flight aboard PWC’s Boeing 720 flying test bed achieved an altitude of 20,000 feet and included a number of tests of engine capabilities. Subsequent flights characterized the engine up to 41,000 feet. “The&nbsp;engine performed flawlessly and exceeded our expectations,” said Dan Breitman, v-p for turbofan development. 

Featuring a dual-channel FADEC, the PW617F was chosen by Embraer to power the Phenom 100 in May 2005, and engine design work began two months later. PWC’s new PW600 engine series is designed for a 50-percent reduction in parts count, and incorporates numerous new technologies. PW617F certification is expected in the fourth quarter of next year, the third for the series, of which the PW610F (Eclipse 500) and PW615F (Cessna Mustang) have been certified and are being delivered.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

PW617F Logs Phenom-enal First Flight 

Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) has successfully completed the maiden flight of its PW617F engine, selected to power the Embraer Phenom 100 very light jet (VL

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