PW4000 Advantage70 begins flight testing

Pratt & Whitney's PW4000 Advantage70 development engine has begun flight testing on the company's 747 flying test bed at its test flight facility in Plattsburgh, New York. The engine, which will deliver 70,000 pounds of thrust for the A330 aircraft family, is expected to achieve Federal Aviation Administration certification in October.

The first PW4000-100 engines with the Advantage70 technology upgrade are scheduled to enter service in 2009.

The A330-200 and A330-300 passenger aircraft will be the first to fly PW4000-100 engines with Advantage70 in mid-2009. Flyington Freighters, the launch customer for the A330-200F, selected Advantage70 to power their new aircraft, which are scheduled to enter service in late 2009.

Engine ground testing completed in East Hartford, Conn, has initially demonstrated the technology upgrades will deliver enhanced engine performance, including a 2 percent thrust increase, a 1 percent reduction in fuel consumption, increased durability, and reduced maintenance costs.

"A rigorous flight test programme is planned for the development engine; we expect enhanced performance, operability and significant environmental improvements compared to today's A330 aircraft" said Jim Speich, PW4000-100 programme manager, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines.

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