Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan(TM) Demonstrator Engine Begins Phase II Ground Testing

Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan(TM) Demonstrator Engine Begins Phase II Ground
Testing

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney's
Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine has begun Phase II ground testing at the
company's advanced test facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Phase II of the
ground test program will focus on engine performance and acoustic
characteristics with a flight capable nacelle system prior to initiating
flight testing mid-year. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies
Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine has logged a total of 130 hours
since ground testing began in November 2007. Running from idle to full power,
Phase I testing validated the design of the fan, low pressure compressor, fan
drive gear system and thermal management system to demonstrate the Geared
Turbofan engine's operational efficiency.
"We have analyzed the data from the first phase of ground testing and we
are delighted by the performance of the Geared Turbofan engine," said Bob
Saia, Pratt & Whitney vice president, Next Generation Product Family. "The
results surpassed our pre-test predictions in every major area, demonstrating
the fuel burn, noise and thermal management characteristics of this new
architecture. As we prepare to enter production engine design for the
Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the proposed Bombardier CSeries aircraft, these
results put us on track to deliver the superior fuel savings and noise
reduction made possible by this new technology."
The Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine is part of Pratt & Whitney's
overall technology readiness program to power the next generation of
commercial aircraft. The company is actively testing key components of the
Geared Turbofan engine on 15 test rigs worldwide. The Geared Turbofan engine
is expected to set new standards in environmental and operational engine
performance.
In 2007, Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan engine was selected as the
exclusive power for the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the proposed
Bombardier CSeries. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet program was officially
launched on March 28, 2008, with an order from All Nippon Airways. The
CSeries program is expected to launch later this year. Both aircraft are
scheduled to enter service in 2013.
In a Geared Turbofan engine, a state-of-the-art gear system allows the
engine's fan to operate independent of the low-pressure compressor and
turbine, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and a slower fan speed for less
noise. The Geared Turbofan engine builds on more than 20 years of technology
development with improvements in every major module.
Pratt & Whitney has more than 17,000 aircraft engines installed with
hundreds of airlines throughout the world. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney is a
leading partner in two joint venture companies that manufacture commercial
aircraft engines: International Aero Engines, which makes the V2500 for the
Airbus A320 family of aircraft, and the Engine Alliance GP7200 for the Airbus
A380.
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.
This release includes "forward looking statements" concerning future
business opportunities and other matters involving this engine that are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward
looking statements include changes in the health of the global economy and the
strength of end market demand in the aerospace industry; as well as company
specific items including the ability to achieve cost reductions at planned
levels; challenges in the design, development, production and support of
advanced technologies including this engine, and new products including the
engine discussed in this press release; and delays and disruption in delivery
of materials and services from suppliers. For information identifying other
important economic, political, regulatory, legal, technological, competitive
and other uncertainties, see UTC's SEC filings as submitted from time to time,
including but not limited to, the information included in UTC's 10-K and 10-Q
Reports under the headings "Business," "Risk Factors," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
"Cautionary Note Concerning Factors that May Affect Future Results," as well
as the information included in UTC's Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Matthew Perra Jennifer Whitlow
Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines Pratt & Whitney
+1.860.595.6515 +1.860.565.9600
matthew.perra@pw.utc.com jennifer.whitlow@pw.utc.com

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney

Matthew Perra of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, +1-860-595-6515,
matthew.perra@pw.utc.com; or Jennifer Whitlow of Pratt & Whitney,
+1-860-565-9600, jennifer.whitlow@pw.utc.com