Engine Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Engine Alliance is a 50/50 joint venture between General Electric and Pratt & Whitney
(a subsidiary of United Technologies) formed in August 1996 to develop, manufacture, sell, and support a family of modern technology aircraft engine
s for new high-capacity, long-range aircraft
.
The main application for such an engine, the GP7200, was originally the Boeing 747
-500/600X projects, before these were cancelled owing to lack of demand from airlines.
Instead, the GP7000 has been re-optimised for use on the Airbus A380
superjumbo. In that market it is competing with the Rolls-Royce Trent 900
, the launch engine for the aircraft. The two variants are the GP7270 and the GP7277.
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
(a subsidiary of United Technologies) formed in August 1996 to develop, manufacture, sell, and support a family of modern technology aircraft engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
s for new high-capacity, long-range aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
.
The main application for such an engine, the GP7200, was originally the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
-500/600X projects, before these were cancelled owing to lack of demand from airlines.
Instead, the GP7000 has been re-optimised for use on the Airbus A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
superjumbo. In that market it is competing with the Rolls-Royce Trent 900
Rolls-Royce Trent 900
The Rolls-Royce Trent 900 is a series of turbofan engines, developed from the RB211 and is one of the family of Trent engines.-Design and development:...
, the launch engine for the aircraft. The two variants are the GP7270 and the GP7277.