Pratt & Whitney's F135 Engine Achieves 7,000 SDD Ground Test Hours
EAST HARTFORD, Conn., January 24, 2007 – Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine exceeded 7,000 system design and development (SDD) ground test hours this week. This achievement, in addition to the 3,600 test hours accumulated during the F-35 concept demonstration program, puts the total engine test program hours logged at more than 10,000.
Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.
“This testing landmark starts off what we expect to be a very productive and successful year for the F135 engine program,” said Bill Gostic, vice president, F135 engine program for Pratt & Whitney. “In 2006 we logged more than 2,500 test hours on the F135 and we’re even more optimistic about 2007. Our first priority is to exceed our customers’ expectations by assuring the flawless performance of the F135 STOVL variant.”
Achieving 7,000 SDD ground test hours is one of a series of milestones for the F135 propulsion system. On December 15, the F135 powered the F-35 Lightning II’s successful first flight. Flying at 15,000 feet, the first flight test verified F135’s integrated flight control systems and its ability to power all of the aircraft’s hydraulic and electrical components. In the first and two subsequent F-35 flight tests to date, the F135 engine returned to base with all systems operating normally.
Pratt & Whitney is the lead propulsion system supplier for the F-35 program. The technologically advanced F135 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.
Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F100 that powers the F-16 and F-15, the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II; F119 for the F-22 Raptor; F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III; J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, 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, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
Jennifer Arsenault
Pratt & Whitney
860.565.9600
jennifer.arsenault@pw.utc.com
Heather Summerer
Military Engines
860.565.0557
heather.summerer@pw.utc.com
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