Pratt & Whitney F135 Engine Exceeds 10,000 SDD Ground Test Hours

Published: Tue Jul 15th, 2008
Source: Pratt & Whitney

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW, July 14, 2008 – The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine exceeded 10,000 system development and demonstration (SDD) ground test hours this week. This achievement, in addition to the 3,600 test hours accumulated during the F-35 concept demonstration program, puts engine test program hours at more than 13,600. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

“This milestone, combined with the ongoing successful F-35 Lightning II flight test programs for both the CTOL and STOVL variants, demonstrates the dependability of Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system,” said Bill Gostic, vice president, Pratt & Whitney F135 engine programs.

Achieving 10,000 test hours is one of a series of milestones for the F135’s SDD ground test program. Pratt & Whitney’s F135 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) engine continues to power the F-35 Lightning II flight test program with 43 flight tests and more than 52 flight test hours to date. Pratt & Whitney’s F135 short take-off and landing (STOVL) propulsion system powered the first flight of the F-35B on June 11, and has accomplished a total of three flight tests and 2.4 flight hours to date.

Rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust, the F135 is the most powerful fighter engine ever built. The technologically advanced F135 is an evolution of the highly successful F119 engine for the F-22 Raptor. By the time the F-35 enters operation in 2013, the F119 engines will have logged more than 600,000 flight hours. In addition, the F135 will have logged 16,000 flight hours and more than 17,000 ground test hours. The ground and flight test experience demonstrate the maturity and the associated reliability of the F135 engine for armed forces around the world.

FILE PHOTO - The Pratt & Whitney F135 engine during tests.
Source: Pratt & Whitney

The F135 STOVL propulsion system team consists of Pratt & Whitney, the prime contractor with responsibility for the main engine and system integration; Rolls-Royce of the United Kingdom, which provides lift components for the STOVL F-35B; and UTC’s Hamilton Sundstrand unit, provider of the engine control system and gearbox.

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.
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Pratt & Whitney F135 Engine Exceeds 10,000 SDD Ground Test Hours

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