East Hartford jet-engine maker Pratt & Whitney Co. has begun ground testing of a version of its geared turbofan designed to power a regional jet being built by Japan’s Mitsubishi.
The PW1217G engine is for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet. The engine, the first of an eight-engine validation and certification program, has completed nearly 16 hours of testing to date on high roter components at Pratt’s West Palm Beach, Fla., facility.
Pratt bills its PW1200 engine series as its quietest, most fuel-efficient yet. It is a division of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford.
Three additional PW1217G engines are in various stages of build and will begin testing shortly.Â
The PW1217G engine test program will run a total of eight test engines over the next two years with engine certification and aircraft first flight scheduled for 2012.
Mitsubishi’s jet is due to enter service in 2014. All Nippon Airways and Trans State Holdings have placed firm and option orders for a total of 125 planes.
