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F100 Engine Demonstrates Outstanding Durability In First Ever "Robust Accelerated Mission Test"

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., May 25, 2001 - Pratt & Whitney, in conjunction with the Propulsion Development Systems Office (DSO) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), recently completed the most demanding accelerated mission test (AMT) ever conducted on any engine in the U.S. Air Force inventory.

The "Robust AMT," performed at the request of senior Air Force propulsion officials, rigorously tested an improved Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine to the most demanding mission conditions currently encountered by the USAF. "This was the first test of this type," said Mr. Otha Davenport, Director of Engineering for the Propulsion Product Group and Chief Engineer for USAF Propulsion. "The intent of the test was to expose the engine to the most extreme conditions that the fleet could see in real life. We really focused on uncovering potential new failure modes and demonstrating design margin to tolerate operational mission changes".

The engine that was tested included durability improvements designed to improve flight safety, reduce operational maintenance, and increase the "time-on-wing." During the Robust AMT, it was exposed to 450 hours of hot time, which is time spent at military power and above; the original specification calls for 231 hours. The test also exposed the engine to 85 hours at maximum power, which is 350% higher than the original requirements, and over 14,000 augmentor lights, which are four times the original requirements. Additional measures ensured that worst case field experience was demonstrated. All of the major rotating systems, including the power take off system, were run with maximum allowable field vibration levels. Horsepower extraction, heated fuel, and aircraft bleed interfaces were configured to simulate the demanding F-15E mission. High cycle fatigue stairstep testing was conducted at sub-ambient, sea level, and altitude conditions. Also, intentional high power stalls were conducted periodically to demonstrate stall margin retention.

"We were very pleased with the performance of the F100-PW-229 propulsion system during this test," said Mr. Davenport. "We tested the engine to extremes, and it responded by demonstrating outstanding durability. It is a testament to the robust improvements introduced into the F100-PW-229 by the Component Improvement Program."

The Robust AMT was designed under the guidance of the propulsion Executive Independent Review Team (EIRT), a team of propulsion experts from industry, government and academia, to validate the latest durability improvements made to the F100-PW-229 engine. It was run at the new propulsion test facility at AEDC, Arnold AFB, Tennessee, which is capable of running simulated sea level and altitude conditions in the same test cell.

The engine is currently being disassembled for a complete Analytical Condition Inspection. This inspection will identify any other areas that the Propulsion DSO may want to will focus on in order to take the system to an even greater level of reliability.

The Propulsion DSO located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio develops, qualifies and acquires new propulsion system for all USAF aircraft requirements.

Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies company, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. P&W is a unit of United Technologies Corporation of Hartford, Conn. P&W’s web site address is http://www.Pratt-Whitney.com.

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