F-16 Fighting Falcon News

September 25, 2012 (by Matthew C. Bates) - Pratt & Whitney has delivered the 500th F119 engine, which powers the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, to the U.S. Air Force. This delivery is accompanied by another significant milestone for the F119 program – more than 20 years of simulated operational service through Accelerated Mission Tests (AMTs).
"Delivery of the 500th F119 engine, along with our accomplishments in AMT, provides tangible proof of the durability of this fifth generation propulsion system," said Cliff Stone, director, F119 Program, Pratt & Whitney. "We are on track to deliver the final F119 engine by the end of the year, and we continue to demonstrate substantial life extension capabilities and cost savings through AMT to our valued customer."

An accelerated mission test compresses many years of operational service into a short duration test, which allows for a robust evaluation of engine durability. During the most recent period of testing, an F119 production engine ran for nearly 570 hours, accumulating more than 2,000 cycles or approximately four years of service. Combined with previous testing, this engine has now surpassed 20 years of simulated operational service. Pratt & Whitney F119 engines have accumulated over 230,000 of actual operational flight hours powering the F-22 fleet.

"Pratt & Whitney is committed to reducing cost for our U.S. Air Force customer, and engine life extension is a powerful way to accomplish that as we move into a sustainment mode for the program," said Chris Flynn, vice president of F119 and F135 Engine Programs. "F-15 and F-16 customers are pleased with the life extension we offer with our F100-PW-229 Engine Enhancement Package, and the F119 AMT demonstrates our ability to deliver similar cost savings for the F-22 Raptor."

With production of the F119 engine nearly complete, Pratt & Whitney continues to deliver F135 engines from the fifth generation production line, with 70 production engines delivered to date. The F135 engine shares similar core components with the F119 engine and powers the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. The F135 engine has powered more than 2,300 flights, with over 3,700 flight hours and 336 vertical landings.

"I continue to be impressed with the excellent hardware condition following accelerated mission testing of the F119. The durability results are a very good indicator for the future performance of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine powering the F-35 Lightning II," said Tom Johnson, chief engineer of the F119 and F135 Programs. "The F119 engine shares mature core components with the F135 engine, which provides tremendous benefits from a cost and durability standpoint. This will benefit the F-35 program with respect to engine maturity, single engine safety, and reduced sustainment costs."

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the operational prospects for certain engines. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in the United States Air Force funding related to the F-22 aircraft and F119 engines and F-35 aircraft and F135 engines.