GE Aviation will soon start certification testing of its new 800-shp H80 turboprop engine, which is derived from the Walter M601. Last summer, GE acquired certain assets of Prague, Czech Republic-based Walter Engines. According to GE Aviation vice president and general manager of business and general aviation Brad Mottier, “The team took the robust design of the Walter M601 engine and incorporated GE’s 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable turboprop engine.” Besides the internal aerodynamic improvements, the H80’s two-stage axial compressor includes a turbine blisk design. Compared to the M601, the H80’s specific fuel consumption is about 7.5-percent lower, according to Mottier. GE is continuing component testing of the H80, and the engine has already accumulated more than 3,000 cycles during hot-section demonstration tests in Prague. The H80 shares the same mounting and attachment scheme as the M601 and thus upgrades are simple. Engine certification testing is set to begin later this year, with certification expected early next year.