GE Aviation launches new turboprop engine
GE Aviation has unveiled its all-new turboprop engine, which has been selected by Textron Aviation to power its single engine turboprop (SETP). Textron Aviation and GE announced the aircraft-engine pairing at the NBAA in Las Vegas.
The 1,300 shaft horse power (SHP)-rated turboprop engine is the first entry in GE’s new family of turboprop engines aimed at Business and General Aviation aircraft in the 850-1,600 SHP range.
“Our single engine turboprop will combine the best of both clean-sheet aircraft and new engine designs.”
Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Turboprops and Interior Design at Textron Aviation said: “Our single engine turboprop will combine the best of both clean-sheet aircraft and new engine designs. Selecting GE as our engine partner reflects the best fit for the mission of the aircraft and our commitment to reliably deliver best-in-class performance capabilities to our customers.”
“By leveraging the newest technologies, we expect our SETP to outperform the competition in critical areas ranging from cabin size and acquisition cost to performance capability and fuel savings,” Tannahill added.
“For the past five years, GE conducted design studies and actively researched the turboprop market to identify and integrate the best of our next-gen commercial and military technologies at the lowest cost and risk to our business aviation customers.”
Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation’s Business & General Aviation and Integrated Systems division said: “For the past five years, GE conducted design studies and actively researched the turboprop market to identify and integrate the best of our next-gen commercial and military technologies at the lowest cost and risk to our business aviation customers. We’re honoured to be selected by Textron Aviation for its newest turboprop program and look forward to growing aircraft applications in the coming years with our new turboprop engine.”
Textron Aviation’s GE-powered SETP is expected to have a range of more than 1,500 nautical miles and speeds higher than 280 knots.
GE expects to conduct the detailed design review (DDR) for the new turboprop in 2017 followed by the first full engine test in 2018.
Development, testing and production of new turboprop engine will occur at GE Aviation’s new turboprop Center of Excellence in Europe, announced this past September. The new facility will represent an investment exceeding $400 million.
GE Aviation has the largest development engine portfolio in the jet propulsion industry and invests more than $2 billion annually in research and development.
GE Aviation released a short video showing the new turboprop engine
