The ongoing worldwide need for helicopters of all types that serve diverse industry and government segments is helping keep manufacturers like Rolls-Royce busy. Current Rolls-Royce engine programs include the RR500 turboshaft and turboprop, the already certified RR300 and the venerable M250. The LHTEC T800 partnership with Honeywell also remains active, with four first flights last year.
FADEC
February 15, 2010 - 5:30am
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has two helicopter engine programs nearing the final stages of development and both remain on schedule.
February 2, 2010 - 1:37am
Before the long-delayed first flight of the A400M, the new airlifter’s TP400 turboprop was flown 18 times on a C-130 flight test bed (FTB) modified and flown by Marshall Aerospace. During a presentation to the UK’s Royal Aeronautical Society last October, Marshall’s chief test pilot Iain Young and flight test engineer Rob Boyle described the challenging task.
November 25, 2009 - 5:59am
Bell 407, DeLand, Fla., Jan. 7, 2008– A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of a third-stage turbine wheel blade downed the single-engine helicopter, the NTSB determined. The 407–operating as an EMS transport– was nearing its patient pickup destination when the pilot reported hearing a loud bang, which was followed by a yaw to the left.
November 23, 2009 - 6:04am
Pratt & Whitney Canada received type certification from TransportCanada for its new PW535E engine for the Embraer Phenom 300. The Fadec-equipped PW535E has a maximum takeoff thrust of 3,360 pounds and features “new advanced proven technologies” in the turbine and compressor areas to produce increased thrust with lower fuel consumption, according to P&WC.
November 18, 2009 - 10:55am
Clifford Development and Stevens Aviation have expanded their Clifford Citation 550 and S550 engine conversion partnership. Stevens Aviation will install an optional Rockwell Collins three-display Pro Line 21 IDS that is certified in a dual AHRS (attitude-heading reference system)/turbulence radar configuration.
November 5, 2009 - 10:42am
Pratt & Whitney Canada yesterday received type certification from Transport Canada for its new PW535E engine for the Embraer Phenom 300 light business jet. “This is a remarkable milestone and comes 26 months after our first run of the PW535E engine,” said P&WC vice president for turbofan programs, John Wyzykowski.
August 28, 2009 - 7:30am
RotorWay in late July unveiled a new production turbine trainer helicopter that it claims will be the world’s most efficient. The Eagle 300T will be powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300B1 engine, similar, but not identical, to the engine used in the Robinson R66. RotorWay CEO Grant Norwitz said the new helicopter would cost “more than a Robinson R22 and less than a Robinson R66” but declined to reveal an exact price.
June 17, 2009 - 9:12am
Engine consortium Europrop International (EPI) is now just 300 test hours away from certification of its 11,000-shp TP400 turboprop for the Airbus A400M military transport. According to technical director Karsten Muehlenfeld, the final software of the full authority digital engine control (Fadec) is to be delivered to the Toulouse iron bird late this month, allowing flight trials to at last begin.
February 23, 2009 - 5:28pm
Goodrich is moving the technology of dual-channel full-authority digital engine controls (Fadec) into smaller and smaller turboshaft engines. At Heli-Expo’09, the company (Booth No. 3241) is showing dual-channel Fadec systems like the unit installed on the 1,050-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S that powers Sikorsky’s new S-76D, which made its first flight on February 7.
