Tag Archives: Pratt & Whitney

Air

Flight demonstrator

Raytheon Technologies announced on December 20, 2022 the successful first engine run of the company’s regional hybrid-electric flight demonstrator, marking a key milestone towards flight testing, targeted to begin in 2024.

Hybrid-electric flight demonstrator
Raytheon Technologies Completes First Engine Run of Regional Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator

The propulsion system’s initial run took place at Pratt & Whitney’s innovation facility in Longueuil, Quebec and performed as expected. The system fully integrates a 1 MW electric motor developed by Collins Aerospace with a highly efficient Pratt & Whitney fuel-burning engine, specially adapted for hybrid-electric operation. This powerplant technology will enable more efficient engine performance during the different phases of flight, such as take-off, climb and cruise, reducing fuel burn and CO2 emissions by up to 30% compared to today’s most advanced regional turboprop aircraft.

«Hybrid-electric propulsion technology offers significant potential to optimize efficiency across a range of different aircraft applications, helping our industry meet its ambitious goal for achieving net zero CO2 emissions», said Jean Thomassin, executive director new products and services, Pratt & Whitney Canada. «With our ground test program now well underway, planned flight testing will enable us to accelerate the demonstration of this next generation sustainable propulsion technology as we continue to expand our collaboration within Canada’s aerospace ecosystem and beyond».

Flight Test Centre of Excellence (Cert Center Canada – 3C), will modify and operate the De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 aircraft, serving as the platform for future flight demonstrations.

«We are honoured that Raytheon Technologies has chosen our Design Approval Organization to lead the flight test program for this historic demonstrator project», said John Maris, 3C president and chief test pilot for the project. «3C has assembled a trusted Quebec team that includes Chrono Aviation, WAAS Aerospace, and Elisen & associés to integrate the hybrid-electric powertrain, battery system, and high voltage electrical harness into 3C’s Dash 8 research aircraft. I am confident that 3C’s extensive flight test experience and historical relationship with Transport Canada will complement Raytheon Technologies’ outstanding team to safely demonstrate this important technological advance».

Since Raytheon Technologies launched the demonstrator project via its Pratt & Whitney Canada and Collins Aerospace businesses in July 2021, supported by the Governments of Canada and Quebec, numerous organizations in Canada and around the world have joined the initiative.

H55 S.A., recently the subject of a minority investment by Raytheon Technologies’ venture capital arm, RTX Ventures, will supply battery systems. The development of battery component designs and associated electrical control systems will also be supported by the National Research Council of Canada and the Innovative Vehicle Institute. Ricardo PLC is also supporting the project with component design, system integration, and testing. De Havilland Canada is supporting integration of the propulsion system on the experimental aircraft.

Raytheon Technologies is leading the development of hybrid-electric propulsion technologies across multiple demonstrator programs, including STEP-Tech and SWITCH, spanning a wide range of potential future aircraft applications. Alongside continually advancing the efficiency of aircraft propulsion systems, the company is also developing technologies to support greater use of cleaner, alternative fuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and hydrogen, each of which will benefit from the increased efficiencies enabled by hybrid-electric propulsion technology.

Air Force

AN will be powered

On October 15, 2015, ANTONOV Company included into UKROBORONPROM State Concern and Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) signed the contract on equipment of AN-132D DEMO aircraft with engines. According to the contract terms, two PW150A engines will be delivered in April 2016. AN-132D maiden flight is expected to be ready for demonstration late 2016.

Construction of the AN-132 new multipurpose transport is being launched
Construction of the AN-132 new multipurpose transport is being launched

The programme of AN-132 light multi-purpose airplane is realized by ANTONOV Company with participation from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Oleksandr Kotsiuba, the First Vice President of ANTONOV Company, said: «This event is significant for both the AN-132 programme and aircraft industry of Ukraine as a whole. The global market demand for the AN-132 is estimated as many as 200 units from 2018 to 2025. We are reaching the new level of international partnership and quality of our aircraft. The engine is the airplane’s heart, and we are confident in reliability of the new ANTONOV transport».

«We are delighted to have been selected by ANTONOV to power its AN-132D aircraft», says Richard Dussault, Vice President, Marketing, P&WC. «The PW150A engine is part of the PW100 family of engines, proven workhorses known for their durability and dependability. This is an exciting, high-potential program for both Antonov and P&WC and we look forward to fully developing that potential». The long-term potential for the programme is estimated to be in the order of 400 PW150A engines.

The AN-132 – intended for short- and medium-haul routes – will have varied use and can be outfitted with a variety of cabin configurations. The aircraft will have a maximum cruising speed of 500 kilometers per hour and a maximum cruising altitude of 9,000 meters with a maximum payload of 9.2 tonnes. Antonov projects a potential market for the aircraft of 200 units between 2018 and 2025.

The PW100 engine family offers the lowest fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the regional turboprop market and incorporates the latest, proven advanced technologies. Ranging in power from 1,800 shp to more than 5,000 shp, PW100 engines are available in 38 models, offering unsurpassed flexibility and capability for a variety of applications. PW100 engines power aircraft in service with 500+ operators in 130+ countries. More than 8,000 PW100/150 engines have been produced since the family entered service in 1984, accumulating more than 165 million flying hours. PW100 engines have demonstrated their versatility in powering aircraft applications spanning regional airlines, coastal surveillance, firefighting and cargo transport.

As a total, more than 20 enterprises of aircraft industry of Ukraine are included into UKROBORONPROM State Concern. Basing on results of effective activity of enterprises of UKROBORONPROM State Concern, the Government of Ukraine took decision to pass ANTONOV Company, Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company and SE «Plant 410 of Civil Aviation» under the Concern’s management.

Richard Dussault (left) and Frederic Lefebvre in flight simulator of the AN-148
Richard Dussault (left) and Frederic Lefebvre in flight simulator of the AN-148