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Pratt & Whitney JSF119 Engine Demonstrates Flawless Performance in First Flight

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 18, 2000—Pratt & Whitney's JSF119 engine met or exceeded all performance requirements today powering the first flight of Boeing's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter X-32A concept demonstrator. The airplane took off at 10:55 a.m. Eastern Time from the Palmdale, Calif., test site and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., as planned.

"This is an outstanding accomplishment by everyone on the Boeing One Team and the Pratt & Whitney employees who developed this superior engine," stated Steve Finger, President, P&W Military Engines. "The JSF119s will provide our customers with affordable, dependable propulsion over the life of the program."

Bob Cea, Vice President, JSF119 Programs, said, "During the entire flight, the JSF119 performed well. We are proud to have contributed to this significant event."

During the flight, Boeing JSF Chief Test Pilot Fred Knox took the X-32A through some initial airworthiness tests, including flying qualities and sub-systems checkout.

Pratt & Whitney has developed, built and tested six JSF119 engines for the Boeing One Team since the beginning of the Concept Demonstration phase of the JSF program in 1996. The JSF119 is a derivative of the highly successful F119 engine that powers the U.S. Air Force's F/A-22 Raptor.

The X-32A is one of two concept demonstrators Boeing is building to demonstrate the design concepts used for the operational JSF. It will demonstrate conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) for the U.S. Air Force and carrier approach flying qualities for the U.S. Navy. The X-32B, which is expected to fly in the first quarter of 2001, will demonstrate short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) requirements for the U.S. Marine Corps and the United Kingdom Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. Boeing recently installed the P&W JSF119 engine in the X-32B aircraft.

Pratt & Whitney also powers the competing Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter demonstration aircraft.

Pratt & Whitney military jet engines are designed, developed, and tested at facilities in Connecticut and Florida and supported at sites around the world. Pratt & Whitney is part of United Technologies Corporation of Hartford, Conn., USA.

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