, The last of more than 400 T58 engine gas path modules was delivered today during the 50th anniversary celebration of the T58 engine. General Electric, working with the CH-46E program office, delivered these upgraded modules under budget and ahead of schedule to the U.S. Marine Corps completing a $300 million, seven year upgrade program for the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter.
The CH-46E Engine Reliability Program (ERIP) was an essential part of upgrading the engines in order to enhance the power margin, safety and reliability of Marine Corps Sea Knight transport helicopters. The program has been a top priority for the Marine Corps medium lift helicopter community and satisfies a number of requirements established by the H-46 Assault Support Operator Advisory Group.
“There is no doubt ERIP will save Marines' and Sailors' lives over the next 10 years as the Sea Knight is scheduled to fly until 2017,” said Lt. Col. Harry Hewson, Program Manager Air-226. “Anytime you can deliver a product under budget and ahead of schedule, you have truly made a contribution to our warfighters.”
The Naval Air Systems Command CH-46/T58 program office (PMA-226) expects all 446 ERIP T58-GE-16A engines to be delivered by late summer 2007. The Sea Knight is now expected to remain in Marine Medium Lift Squadrons through 2017 pending replacement by the MV-22 Osprey.
“The timing of the launch of the ERIP program couldn’t have been better as new engines began arriving at a time when our country was just beginning its war on terror,” said Col. Bill Taylor, the former CH-46 program manager who helped launch ERIP in 2000. “To date, ERIP engines have accumulated more than 144,000 flight hours, much of that time in the harsh environments of Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.”
The T58-GE-16A ERIP is meant to extend the time between engine removals and sustain the rated power of the Sea Knight engine. The upgrade incorporates a new compressor, combustor and high-pressure turbine, plus modifications to the power turbine and engine accessory package. Another way was discovered to extend the life of the engines. A Titanium Nitride (TiN) coating process for the compressor blades was identified and added into ERIP process. The coating reduces blade erosion and improves engine time-on-wing thereby reducing maintenance time and costs.
“The ERIP goal for mean time between engine removals is 700 to 900 hours, a two fold improvement, and the new engines are meeting that objective.” said Andy Wilkinson, the PMA-226 H-46/T58 Deputy Program Manager. “Our goal is to eventually keep the engine on the helicopter for 1,200 hours instead of coming in every 300 to 400 hours for repair. To date over 20 ERIP engines have accumulated 1,200 plus hours with the high time engine at 1,450 hrs”.
The 1,870 shaft horse power rating of the T58-GE-16A engine remains unchanged. However, tighter production tolerances have given the upgraded engines’ average power margins more than seven percent of specification power – more than twice the margin of typical production engines. The higher power margins will help preserve full rated power over the service life of the upgraded engine and will improve performance in hot weather and high altitude emergencies.
Born in 1953 and still flying today, the T58 turboshaft engine has proven to be one of the most reliable helicopter engines ever. For more than 50 years this engine has powered helicopters like the U.S. Navy’s H-3 Sea King, the U.S. Marine Corps (then) new CH-46 Sea Knight right up to today’s latest version, the T58-GE-16A, powering the Marine Corps CH-46Es flying combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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