EVENDALE, Ohio – Development of the GE-P&W Engine Alliance’s advanced GP7000 engine remains on schedule with the successful completion of the second full-scale core engine test. The GP7000 is being developed for the new four-engine Airbus Industrie A380.In addition to verifying the GP7000 core performance for the A380, this test supported the GE90-115B engine which shares a common core architecture and aerodynamic technology level with the GP7000. The core, which features an advanced nine stage high pressure compressor (HPC), represents the latest configuration in GE’s strategic continuous improvement plan for an HPC architecture which is common for the GP7000 and the GE90-115B.The GP7000 is benefiting from a heritage of development and verification testing which began with Build 1A, and has progressed to the current Build 6. The latest core build ran for more than 160 hours at GE’s Evendale, Ohio, altitude simulation facility. The tests logged approximately 1,000 data points from more than 1,000 pieces of instrumentation to validate compressor efficiency and operability. The company ran the core Build 5 test in mid-2000, successfully testing several key features, including a swept first stage, high pressure compressor airfoil for increased flow and efficiency, and the elimination of the variable vane feature of the stage 4 compressor vane stage which can now be fixed to reduce overall engine complexity and improve cost of ownership.”We’re very excited about the results of this very important test program,” said Lloyd Thompson, president of the GE-P&W Engine Alliance. “After we completed the core Build 5 test last year, we felt we could further improve the industry’s best compressor. These latest tests confirmed those predictions. This core met all of our requirements for efficiency, and exceeded our expectations for operability.”The world-class performance of the GP7000 core has been validated through this testing giving high confidence that the GP7000 will meet or exceed all performance requirements for the A380 aircraft. Right now, we are the only engine manufacturer testing critical components for the Airbus A380; we’re ensuring that we give our customers mature technology at entry into service.”Extensive GP7000 component tests are ongoing, with core Build 7 slated to go to test in early 2002 as part of the GP7000 strategy to continually improve performance and mature technology. The company will begin the detailed engine design phase in early 2003 and will run the first full engine test in early 2004. The GP7000 is scheduled to be certified at 81,500 pounds takeoff thrust by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the Joint Aviation Authorities of the European Economic Community in mid-2005. First flight on the A380 is scheduled for January 2006, followed by entry into service later that year.Three models of the GP7000 are being offered on the long-range, four-engine A380, including the GP7267, the GP7270, and the GP7277. The Engine Alliance is certifying an 81,500 pound takeoff thrust rating to provide margin for future potential aircraft growth requirements.All models will have a 116-inch-diameter fan with wide chord, hollow titanium blades, a bypass ratio of 9 to 1, and an overall pressure ratio of 46 to 1. The engine also incorporates a nine stage, high pressure compressor, a scaled derivative of the GE90 HPC. The GP7000 has a single annular combustor designed to limit emissions to 40 percent below the 1998 standards set by the ICAO, and a two stage, high pressure turbine equally scaled (same scale factor as the HPC) from the GE90. Other design features include a five stage low pressure compressor and six stage low pressure turbine with advanced technology, derived from the PW4000 family.Within the GE-P&W Engine Alliance, Pratt & Whitney is responsible for the design and fabrication of the fan, LPC, LPT, and gear train, and GE Aircraft Engines is responsible for the engine core (HPC, HPT, and combustor) and control system.