52_Day2_FARN_B4342.qxd 16/7/06 9:02 am Page 52 www.flightdailynews.com PROPULSION Engine Alliance’s GP7200 ready to fly following tough testing The GP7000 programme also Alan Peaford includes MTU, Snecma and TechSpace Aero as partners but it Bruce Hughes, president of the is GE and Pratt & Whitney that General Electric/Pratt & Whitney take the lead. “We have a joint Engine Alliance, is happy to shrug MRO offered with the engine. off the announced delays to the Obviously we expect low volume Airbus A380 test programme that for the first five years but we will has left his GP7200 engine still increase capacity as time goes on,” waiting to take to the air in says Hughes. Toulouse. Hughes – who is also the GE “In the whole scale of an engine general manager of the GP7000 development, of the investment programe, will be joined at and of the returns, a few months Farnborough by his opposite does not make a difference,” says number from Pratt & Whitney, Hughes. “We support Airbus Jim Moravecek, the director of however we can. Of course we are GP7000 programmes. looking forward to proving the engine on an A380. It’s powered Partners and ready for flight.” As Moravecek is based in Connecticut while Hughes is in Venture Ohio, Farnborough provides a The first 10 engines built by the good opportunity for the ‘alliance’ GE-P&W joint venture are either to get together as well as to meet in Toulouse or on their way. “The partners, customers and suppliers. first four are already on the wing, “We do work well together,” says the second four are for the second Moravecek. The pair will be aircraft and the other two are promoting the new customer spares,” Hughes says. Bruce Hughes: “We are looking forward to proving the engine on an A380. It’s powered and ready for flight.” support service. One of the seven engines “People will see how well the already delivered has been The Engine Alliance’s GP7200 engine certification tests and engine operations (ETOPS) stan- engine performs – the fuel shipped to the UK for the engine received certification from more than 50 component tests. Its dards, despite its intended use on consumption is better than speci- Farnborough show – the first time the US Federal Aviation initial certification approved the four-engined A380, he adds. fied and we are sure that with the a real GP7200 engine has been Administration in January. It has thrust of 76,500lb (340kN). The GP7200 was selected by support programmes in place seen at a show. already captured around 55% of "We put the GP7200 through as launch customer Emirates, which there will be a lot of interest.” “The engine is very easy to the A380 market, had undergone tough a test regime as any engine is expecting to take delivery of its One thing neither Hughes nor move around and will fit in 21 months of tests, altogether has ever faced," says Hughes. The first aircraft in 2007 after Singapore Moravecek would comment on freighters, making it a lot easier running around 7,000 cycles. The engine was tested to more strin- Airlines receive the first aircraft, was the Engine Alliance’s plans to for repair,” says Hughes. FAA performed 25 full-scale gent large extended-range twin fitted with Rolls-Royce engines. power an Airbus A350/370. Goodrich completes test assembly of GP7200 engine Step 1 – Rotating the giant Step 2 – The propulsor (right) Step 3 – Fine adjustments Step 4 – Fully fan section to get it into a and the fan case (left) ready before assembly/”marry up” assembled/”married up” engine, vertical position. for assembly/’marry up”. of fan case and propulsor. propulsor and fan sections. Goodrich has completed the first test systems, pylon drain, fire extinguisher; Jean Luminet, president, Goodrich key role in the full scale evacuation assembly of the Engine Alliance and electrical harnesses including the Aerospace Europe, says: "Our team is test which was successfully completed GP7200 engine for the Airbus A380 at Variable Frequency Generator (VFG) proud to be part of another milestone in March in Hamburg, Germany. its France Aerostructures site in harness. in the development of this very high The largest evacuation test ever Toulouse. Finally, the team installed a package profile aircraft as it makes its way into conducted simulated an emergency With a fully-assembled engine meas- of Airbus buyer-furnished equipment the global fleet. involving 853 passengers, 18 flight uring 12.8ft (3.9m) in diameter, Engine including mounts, thrust links, “Planning for the GP7200 engine attendants and two flightcrew. It Alliance shipped the engine to hydraulic pumps, fuel and hydraulic assembly began as far back as January purposely used only half of the 16 Toulouse in a split ship configuration. lines, pressure valves and VFG. 2005 and involved a delicate balance of Goodrich-produced slides on board to The test assembly included rejoining The compact VFG is manufactured many technically challenging tasks. safely evacuate everyone in 78sec in the fan case section to the engine core. by Aerolec, a joint venture between We even had to modify our infrastruc- complete darkness. Goodrich also installed engine build- Goodrich and Thales and plays a key ture to accommodate the assembly.” The European Aviation Safety up kits consisting of pneumatics and role on board the A380, producing elec- Earlier in the A380’s proving tests, Agency and representatives from the starter systems, hydraulic and fuel tricity for the entire aircraft. Goodrich’s evacuation slides played a US FAA declared the test a success. 52 July 18 2006 FLIGHT DAILY NEWS.