Designed For More SHP, Better Fuel Efficiency
GE Aviation is preparing for the
start of certification testing later this year of its new H80
turboprop engine, which is derived from the Walter M601 series
engines. Drawing upon the design of the Walter M601 series, the H80
will produce up to 800 shaft horsepower (shp) to power utility,
agriculture and business and general aviation aircraft.
"The H80 engine is a collaborative effort of engineers at GE
Aviation's Evendale, Lynn and Czech Republic facilities," said Brad
Mottier, vice president and general manager of the Business and
General Aviation organization at GE Aviation. "The team took the
elegant and robust design of the Walter M601 engine and
incorporated GE's 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced
materials to create a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable
turboprop engine."
GE's 3D aero design techniques and advanced materials have been
integrated into the H80 engine's compressor, along with flow-path
and material improvements to the turbine nozzle guide vanes.
The H80's two-stage axial compressor also includes an innovative
turbine blisk design.
The H80 engine will deliver more shaft-horsepower, improved fuel
efficiency and increased temperature margin, significantly
enhancing hot-day takeoff performance and high-altitude cruise
speeds. The H80 engine will also feature an extended service life
of 3,600 hours and 6,600 cycles between overhauls.
GE continues component testing of the H80 engine. The engine has
already accumulated more than 3,000 cycles during hot section
demonstration tests in Prague. Additional engine demonstration
tests are scheduled for this summer and fall. Engine certification
testing is set to begin later this year with certification expected
in early 2010.
Last summer, GE acquired certain assets of Walter Engines a.s.,
an aircraft engine design and manufacturing company with a
distinguished history in aviation. Since that time, the new
business, GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., completed its move to a new
135,000 square-foot facility in Prague. The new facility includes a
new surface-treatment plant that was awarded certification by the
Czech Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Aerospace and
Defense Contractors Accreditation Program in June. The site also
boasts new engine test cells, which were completed earlier this
month. The GE Aviation Czech facility employs about 400
employees.
The former Walter Engines produced more than 37,000 engines, and
its Walter M601 turboprop engine family has attained 17 million
flight hours on 30 applications since its introduction in 1975.