Pratt & Whitney Modifying Lead Engine For JSF

Posted on: Aug. 6th, 2004 || Source: aviationnow.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Pratt & Whitney is modifying the lead engine for the U.S. Defense Department's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to address an erosion problem that surfaced in the propulsion system almost two months ago.

The company is increasing the size of the "restrictor plate" that regulates the flow of cooling air in part of the F135 engine, Pratt & Whitney spokesman David Morgillo told The DAILY Aug. 4. Engineers determined that the plate's old "undersized" design was not allowing enough cool air to reach the second-stage vanes of the turbine section, causing erosion to develop in the FX641, one of four F135s the company has delivered to the JSF program.

Read the full article

• Boeing, US Navy Offer Super Hornet for Denmark Fighter Competition
• Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 191 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters
• The Netherlands shows interest in Gripen
• 4th F-35 Lightning II Rolls Out As Production Line Fills Up At Lockheed
• Lockheed Martin C-5m Super Galaxy Completes Flight Test
• Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols
• Predator passes 400,000 hours
• Future Predator/Reaper Formal Training Unit announced
• Saab/Gripen team completes Hungarian offset contract
• South African Gripen deliveries on track
• Boeing Delivers Super Hornet Proposal to Brazil For F-X2 Competition
• Northrop to Support NASA's Global Hawk Earth Science Research Aircraft
• NATO forces a step closer to attaining C-17s
• Northrop, Rockwell Collins Prove Concept for New B-2 Cockpit Display
• Navy's BAMS UAS Program Begins After GAO Ruling