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P&W Successfully Completes Testing for JSF119 Engine Flight Clearance

West Palm Beach, Fla. (May 25, 2000)—Pratt & Whitney has successfully completed the flight clearance testing of JSF119 engines for both the Boeing and Lockheed Martin conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) and carrier (CV) variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. By doing so, P&W is now ready for flight-testing expected to begin this summer.

Development testing of the JSF119 engines that will power the CTOL/CV aircraft demonstrators was completed earlier this year. Flight clearance testing, completed this month, demonstrated that all up-and-away requirements were met or exceeded. Short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) development testing is underway.

"The engines are no longer concepts, or designs that need to be proven - they are real engines that are ready to be flown. They have done exceedingly well in ground testing that's required for flight certification," explains Pratt & Whitney JSF119 Program Director Bob Cea. "This has been the result of an outstanding team effort involving our employees, the JSF Program Office, Rolls-Royce, and representatives from both Boeing and Lockheed Martin."

"We're now ready to commence with the next major phase of the program - flight test," said Cea. "These are very exciting times, as we actually get to see the engines we have designed and built power aircraft through the sky."

Both engines successfully completed all the rigorous testing required for flight clearance. Boeing engine JSF119-614 and Lockheed Martin engine JSF119-611 went through performance testing at all power ranges within their full flight envelopes. Altitude testing was conducted at the USAF's Arnold Engineering and Development Center essentially clearing the CTOL/CV as well as STOVL engines for up-and-away flight. Sea level accelerated mission tests were conducted at P&W's world class engine test facilities in West Palm Beach, Fla., to demonstrate engine durability for both CTOL and CV variants.

Both engines have been installed in their respective demonstrator aircraft and overall aircraft systems checks are well underway, drawing praise from both airplane manufacturers. Frank Statkus, Boeing's JSF program director, told reporters, "Everything is running perfectly." Frank Cappuccio, Lockheed Martin's JSF program director, said, "The JSF119-611 engine continues to perform magnificently."

Pratt & Whitney JSF119 engines also continue to perform very well in ground testing of the Boeing and Lockheed Martin STOVL propulsion systems.

"We continue to reap great benefits from the commonality of the JSF119 and our F119 engine, which is performing very well in F/A-22 flight test," said Cea. "There is no substitute for the maturity an engine gains through years of development and flight testing, and that maturity has been one critical element to our success supporting both weapon systems contractors."

Pratt & Whitney's Military Engines unit designs, develops, tests and supports military jet engines. Pratt & Whitney is part of United Technologies Corporation of Hartford, Conn., USA.

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