Thu, Feb 19, 2009
GP7200-Powered Airliner First Of 12 Slated For Carrier
The first Air France A380, powered with Engine Alliance GP7200
engines, successfully completed a 4-hour inaugural test route
flight from Toulouse on February 12, 2009. The aircraft flew to
Airbus Hamburg on February 16, where it will be painted in Air
France livery, and its interior will be customized for the airline.
The A380 is scheduled for delivery to Air France in October.
The aircraft is the first of 12 A380s Air France has on order,
and all 12 will be powered with Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. Air
France is the second customer for the joint venture company of GE
Aviation and Pratt & Whitney, whose GP7200 engines entered
service with Emirates last August.
"This first flight represents another milestone in the GP7200
program," Engine Alliance President Jim Moravecek said. "We're
ready for our entry into service with Air France this year, and we
couldn't be more excited about working with them."
The GP7200 is derived from two
successful wide body engine programs, the GE90 and the PW4000. The
A380 meets stringent Stage 4 noise regulations and London's QC2
departure noise rules. According to European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) certification test data, the GP7200 engine is the quietest
engine on this aircraft. The GP7200's environmental emissions are
also well below current and anticipated regulations.
The GP7200 is manufactured at GE and Pratt & Whitney, with
GE assembling the core in Durham, NC, and Pratt & Whitney
manufacturing the fan module, low pressure compressor and low
pressure turbine. Final engine assembly is conducted at Pratt &
Whitney's Engine Center in Middletown, CT.
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