Neha Patil (Editor)

Pratt and Whitney PW2000

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Pratt & Whitney PW2000

The Pratt & Whitney PW2000, also known by the military designation F117, is a series of high-bypass turbofan aero engines with a thrust range from 37,000 to 43,000 lbf (165 to 190 kN). Built by Pratt & Whitney, they were designed for the Boeing 757. As a 757 powerplant, these engines compete with the Rolls-Royce RB211.

Contents

Design and development

Pratt & Whitney began working on the JT10D in October 1971 intended for the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 into the Advanced Medium STOL Transport project and the Boeing 767 then code named 7X7, which first ran in August 1974 and grew into the PW2000.

The PW2000 is a dual-spool, axial air flow, annular combustion, high by-pass turbofan with a dual-channel Full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. It was certified in 1984 as the first civilian FADEC-controlled aviation engine.

MTU Aero Engines holds a 21.2% stake in the engine, having developed the low-pressure turbine and turbine exit casing as well as producing critical parts of the low-pressure turbine, the turbine exhaust casing, high-pressure compressor and high-pressure turbine components.

The first PW2000 series engine, the PW2037, powered the Boeing 757-200 and entered service with Delta Air Lines as the launch customer for the civil aviation version of the engine.

Other than the 757, the PW2000 series engines also power the C-17 Globemaster III military transport; the United States Department of Defense designation for the engine is F117, with the specific variant used on the C-17 being the F117-PW-100. The powerplant first flew on the C-17 in 1991.

The PW2000 also powered the abortive Ilyushin Il-96M; the engine first flew on the Il-96M in 1993.

On October 16, 2008 the NTSB recommended that the FAA issue urgent new inspection procedures on the PW2037 model of the engine, following an uncontained turbine failure event in August 2008. The NTSB recommended that the FAA order PW2037 engines inspected beyond a threshold of flight hours or flight cycles less than that of the event engine, and be reinspected at regular intervals.

The latest build standard, named PW2043, launched in 1994. It provides over 43,000 lbf (190 kN) of thrust. Previous generations of engines can be converted to the PW2043 version.

Applications

  • Boeing 757
  • Boeing C-32
  • Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
  • Ilyushin Il-96M
  • Specifications (F117-PW-100)

    Data from "F-117-PW-100" (PDF). Pratt & Whitney. (link: pw2000). Retrieved 10 July 2013. 

    General characteristics

  • Type: Turbofan
    Bypass ratio 6.0
  • Length: 146.8 inches (3,729 mm)
  • Diameter: 84.5 inches (2,146 mm)
  • Dry weight: 7,100 pounds (3,221 kg)
  • Components

  • Compressor: Axial
  • Combustors: Annular
  • Turbine: 8 stage axial
  • Fuel type: Jet-A Aviation Kerosene
  • Performance

  • Maximum thrust: 38,400–43,734 pounds-force (170.81–194.54 kN)
  • Overall pressure ratio: 27.6-31.2
  • Thrust-to-weight ratio: 5.41-6.16
  • References

    Pratt & Whitney PW2000 Wikipedia