Pratt & Whitney's F135 Powers the First F-35 Low Speed Taxi Test
Contact: Heather Summerer
860-565-0557
heather.summerer@pw.utc.com
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., December 11, 2006 –The F-35 Lightning II, powered by Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine, successfully completed its first low-speed taxi test. This significant milestone is one of the engine’s final ground tests before the F-35 is cleared for the first flight. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.
During the testing, the F-35 taxied to the runway at a speed of 10 knots and reached a maximum speed of 30 knots on the runway. In addition to testing the aircraft throttle and braking systems, the low-speed taxi test demonstrated that all systems powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine are functioning properly prior to first flight.
“The successful low-speed taxi test is another demonstration of the consistent performance of the F135 engine,” said Bill Gostic, vice president, F135 engine programs, Pratt & Whitney. “Every milestone this engine achieves is a testament to the commitment and partnership between Lockheed Martin, the Joint Program Office and Pratt & Whitney.”
Powering the low-speed taxi test is one in a series of significant milestones the F135 engine has accomplished. In October, the F135 engine was granted Initial Flight Release by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), which declared all F135 tests and verification reports complete. The engine has recently surpassed 6,600 hours of ground testing in addition to the more than 3,600 hours accumulated during the concept demonstration phase of the F-35 program, reflecting the F135's maturity and reliability.
Pratt & Whitney is the lead propulsion system supplier for the F-35 program. The technologically advanced F135 engine is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. Together the F135 and F119 will have logged more than 800,000 hours before the F-35’s introduction into operational service in 2012. Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built.
The F135 propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom, providing lift components for the STOVL (short takeoff, vertical landing) F-35B; and UTC’s Hamilton Sundstrand unit, provider of the F135’s control system, external accessories and gearbox.
In addition to the F135 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the F119 powering the F-22 Raptor, Pratt & Whitney military engine models include the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III; F100 for F-15 and F-16 fighters; J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, C-141 and KC-135 aircraft; TF30 for the F-111, PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and JT15 for the T-1A trainer and Pegasus UCAV.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies provides high-technology products and services to the aerospace and building industries.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
