Flight Tests In Two Years

The GE CT7-8B5 turboshaft engine has been selected to power the US Army Special Operations MH-60M Black Hawk (Sikorsky) aircraft.

The initial 2005 contract to General Electric Company for $15.5 million is for the development program, which includes engine development and aircraft integration activities, and flight test engines and support. Flight-test engine deliveries are scheduled to begin in January 2006, with initial flight-testing planned for 2007.

"We are honored to support the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment" said Ed Birtwell, GE's vice president, Turboshaft Engines. "We believe this extensive technical evaluation proves again that the CT7/T700 is the right choice to fulfill missions at hot-high conditions -- like those in Afghanistan and Iraq -- and in other extreme operating environments.

Rated in the 2,600-shaft-horsepower (shp) class, the CT7-8B5 was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2004. The CT7-8B5 features an advanced, higher-flow compressor designed with new three-dimensional aerodynamic (3D Aero) technology, a modern full authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system, plus hot-section and turbine components proven in millions of flight-hours on GE's family of commercial engines.

The CT7/ T700 engine family has amassed more than 50 million flight-hours powering 21 different aircraft models in civil and military service throughout the world. To meet current and future requirements, GE continues to enhance the performance, reliability and durability of in-service engines, while developing new, more powerful models in the 2,200-3,000 SHP range.

FMI: www.ge.com