Pratt & Whitney reports that it has successfully completed accelerated endurance testing equivalent to more than 20,000 hours of service operation on the PurePower PW1000G fan drive gear system.
"Results from the latest round of ongoing tests continue to demonstrate the design robustness for the system," remarked Bob Saia, vice-president, Next Generation Product Family, Pratt & Whitney. The fan drive gear system and its patented Geared Turbofan technology target double-digit reductions in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs.
More than 1,000 hours of laboratory testing on the fan drive gear system have simulated more than 40,000 takeoffs "at the equivalent loads at 30,000 lb thrust" loads, with 15,000 of those being maximum torque takeoffs at extreme oil temperatures. Post-test inspections have revealed the gears, journal bearings and components to be in excellent condition after this rigorous testing.
The recent endurance testing for the fan drive gear system further supports the findings from the PW1000G demonstrator engine, which confirmed the system's robust design and efficiency with lower than predicted heat rejection into the engine oil system. The PW1000G Demonstrator Engine garnered 406 hours of operation with 120 hours in flight.
"The PW1000G engine demonstration program showed the fan drive gear system was invisible to the aeroplane, with overall operation of the geared turbofan engine the same as today's conventional engines, only with lower fuel consumption and drastically lower noise," Saia emphasised.
PW1000G PurePower family engines have been selected for the Bombardier CSeries CS100 and CS300 and for the Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation MRJ70 and MRJ90.
The DoD has changed its structures and is been increasing efforts to facilitate access to loans by companies interested in working with artificial intelligence, advanced materials and semiconductors, biotechnology and quantum science.
India has approved millions of dollars in new military purchases, most of which will go to public sector companies.
The main obstacles to overcoming risks in the region are a lack of a strong cybersecurity culture and inadequate funds to invest in this domain given a widespread Chinese presence in the region.
MBDA is adapting to supply chain pressures as the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to increased demand for armaments.
Despite the additional funding promised this week, the UK armed forces still look set to face cutbacks, and maintaining international commitments to AUKUS and GCAP may limit the options for other programmes.
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
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