Pratt & Whitney delivered the first PurePower PW1400G-JM engine to Russia’s Irkut Corporation for installation in its forthcoming MC-21 aircraft.
Irkut is a business unit of Russia’s United Aricraft Corp. Its MC-21 is one of three in a series twin-engine aircraft for short- and mid-range routes, to carry 150-212 passengers. It is compared to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX series, and Irkut reportedly has nearly 300 orders from Russian airlines and leasing companies.
The PW1400G-JM engine was assembled and tested at the Pratt & Whitney West Palm Beach Engine Center, and then shipped to Irkutsk, Russia. Further testing will be conducted, and engine certification is expected later this year.
The delivery was announced at the recent Moscow Air Show.
Irkut will “pod” the engines for installation on the new aircraft; placing a jet engine in a nacelle, or pod, that is fixed on the aircraft wing away from the fuselage helps to reduce wing bending during flight.
Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G series engines have a gear system that separates the engine fan from the low-pressure compressor and turbine, allowing each of the modules to operate at their optimal speeds. This enables the fan to rotate slower, and while the low-pressure compressor and turbine operate at a high speed, increasing engine efficiency and delivering significantly lower fuel consumption, emissions and noise.
"The PW1400G-JM engine is proof of the Geared Turbofan™ engine technology's key strengths – its adaptability and versatility – and we are excited to provide the first PurePower engine for Irkut as the engine family continues to display unprecedented levels of performance across the board," according to Jill Albertelli, Pratt & Whitney vice president, NGPF-30K programs.
"We were able to conform this engine to meet our customer's needs and expectations to provide numerous operational benefits. The dynamic engine coupled with Irkut's MC-21 aircraft will offer airline customers dramatic reductions in fuel burn, emissions, and noise compared to today's in-service aircraft."
