The 88,000-pounds-thrust GP7200 being developed by the Engine Alliance (GE and Pratt & Whitney) is a bit ahead of performance predictions during testing, and the group is confident it will meet guarantees made to Airbus for the A380.
Lloyd B. Thompson, president of the Engine Alliance joint venture, said in the test runs so far the powerplant is ahead of targets for specific fuel consumption and temperature margins by 0.5% to 1%.
Two engines are now in testing, and there will be five by yearend in the countdown to certification in third quarter 2005. First flight of the engine is scheduled for this fall on a Boeing 747 flying test bed, followed by first flight on an A380 in November 2005, and then entry into service by October 2006 on an Emirates A380-800.
The alliance is using the occasion of the Farnborough air show to unveil its new logo that focuses on a distinct brand identify. The previous logo (from its startup in 1996) had both GE and Pratt & Whitney seals in it, but the alliance is now confident it is well enough recognized as a separate entity to make a change.
Thompson points out that the GP7200 has captured a 61% market share on the A380 so far, with four customers and firm orders to power 67 of the four-engine aircraft. The alliance plans to build 300 engines, including spares, initially. For entry into service on the passenger A380, the engine will be rated at 70,000-pounds-thrust, with plenty of growth potential for the freighter and other versions in the future.
Pratt & Whitney is developing the low-pressure system, fan, booster, low-pressure turbine and accessory gearbox. GE is developing the core as a GE-90 derivative. The bypass ratio is very high, nearly 9 to 1, for noise abatement reasons. The fan is about 116 inches in diameter.
David L. Joyce, vp and general manager for commercial engines operation at GE, said the alliance is working well and headed in the right direction. Robert F. Leduc, president for commercial engines at Pratt & Whitney, said the two U.S. companies speak the same language and approach things the same way. "It has actually been one of the best partnerships we've ever had," he said.
There are other potential applications of the engine with the same core and a modified fan. Thompson said Boeing and Airbus are always doing product studies; the alliance has provided a study to Boeing with a smaller fan diameter for the 747. "I am a firm believer that, as in the movie [Field of Dreams], if you build the engine, they will come," he said.
