Pratt & Whitney,
EAST HARTFORD: Pratt & Whitney's F117 engine program has logged more than four million flight hours of operation for the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. Supporting military, disaster relief and humanitarian missions around the world, the F117-powered C-17 serves the strategic airlift and mobility needs of the U.S. Air Force and the British Royal Air Force. Pratt & Whitney is a business unit of United Technologies Corp.
“This four million hour milestone is a testament to the durability and reliability of the F117 engine,” said Bev Deachin, director of Airlift and Mobility Programs for Pratt & Whitney. “The entire F117 team is extremely proud to be a part of this exceptional air system.”
Four F117 engines — each rated at more than 40,000 pounds of thrust — power each C-17 Globemaster III. The F117 is the military version of Pratt & Whitney's commercial PW2000 engine, which has been in service for nearly 20 years on the Boeing 757. The PW2000 has accumulated more than 25 million flight hours, is the most fuel-efficient engine in its thrust class, and has an outstanding record of performance and reliability.
One of the few differences between the commercial PW2000 and the F117 is that the F117 has a unique thrust reverser system that can be deployed in flight for tactical descents. It also enables the aircraft to back up a two-degree incline and make tight turns on the ground, providing more landing and unloading areas and faster aircraft throughput. The F117-powered C-17 entered service for the U.S. Air Force in September 1991.
In addition to the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, Pratt & Whitney military engine models include the F135 for the Joint Strike Fighter; F119 for the F-22 Raptor; F100 for F-15 and F-16 fighters; J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, C-141 and KC-135 aircraft; TF30 for the F-111; PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and JT15 the T-1A trainer; and Pegasus UCAV.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies provides high-technology products and services to the aerospace and building industries.
