Pratt & Whitney Co. says it’s ready to test its first PurePower geared turbofan sold to Europe’s Airbus, which in two years will use the engine to ferry passengers aboard its A320neo jetliners.
The East Hartford jet-engine builder said Friday it completed final assembly during a “last bolt” ceremony at its West Palm Beach, Fla., plant of its revolutionary geared turbofan for which Airbus and its customers have ordered hundreds to propel the A320neo airframe.
The PW1100G-JM engine test program will run a total of eight test engines – also being assembled at its Middletown facility — over the next two years.
The engine is due to enter full service for the A320neo in October 2015.
Pratt says so far it has orders for 1,136 PurePower engines to power the A320neo lineup.
The 33,000-pound thrust PW1100G-JM engine is one of three PurePower versions Pratt is marketing to aircraft builders and lessors, and airlines worldwide. PurePower is pitched as quieter and less fuel thirsty than contemporary passenger-jet engines.
Pratt is a division of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford.
