France-based engine developer Price Induction is taking its DGen 380 turbofan on a U.S. tour this month. Exhibited on a mobile test bed, the 575-pound-thrust powerplant and all of its operating equipment have been mounted on a truck platform for the tour. Next stops are Chicago (July 21), Cleveland (July 24) and University Park, Pa. (July 28).

Price Induction is marketing the engine as a component of its educational tools, such as a test bench that can be used by universities for teaching turbine acoustics, thermodynamics and so on. The company is also seeking aircraft applications, either certified or experimental, in what it describes as the “personal light jet” category.

The DGen 380 has logged approximately 1,000 hours since its first run in 2006. It features a geared architecture, fan and turbine blisks and an integral starter-generator mounted on a main shaft. Since February, Price Induction has been struggling financially and it is currently under the supervision of a legal administrator, similar to the U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection/reorganization.