Airbus has completed the installation of Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G geared turbofan demonstrator engine on its A340-600 flying testbed in Toulouse.

Initial ground test runs are due to begin early next week, with a first flight expected later in the week. The A340 is due to fly a two-month, 75h flight-test programme with the GTF engine replacing the Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engine in the No 2 position.

 A340-gtf
 © Airbus

Airbus says it is working with "all the major engine manufacturers and plans to conduct similar tests with them in the coming years". It adds that such tests will enable it "to validate the fuel burn and emissions that could be achieved with each new engine technology".

A340-gtf-close-up 
 © Airbus

Source: Flight International