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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 2878.PDF
Canadian two- step Pratt & Whitney Canada's small turbine engine programme (Step) has produced the PW209T twin-turbine powerplant for Canadian-built Bell TwinRanger helicopters, reports David Godfrey from Toronto. The use of two engines in a light helicopter is not merely a safety feature, nor is it an indication of needless sophistication. It is a technical advance made possible by continued turbine engine development towards low weight, high power, and moderate fuel consumption. Real performance benefits are conferred by multi-engine powerplants in rotary- wing aircraft. It is a logical step, therefore, to take existing light twin-turbine helicop ters and mate new-technology power- plants to their proven rotor systems. This is now being done with the Bell Model 400 TwinRanger and the MBB BO105LS. The new turbine involved is the Pratt & Whit ney Canada (P&WC) PW200 series engine, formerly the small turbine engine programme (Step). P&WC has plenty of helicopter power- plant experience on which to draw, partic ularly the PT6T TwinPac which powers the Bell 212 and 412. This comprises two PT6B turboshafts driving a combining gearbox with a single output shaft. In TwinPac, if one turboshaft loses power below a preset level the other auto matically increases its power output to compensate. TwinPac is also used in Sikorsky's S-76 with a transmission having two output shafts. Conceived as a second-generation TwinPac, and taking advantage of P&WC experience with the PT6B turboshaft, PT6 turboprop, JT15D turbofan, and PW100 series turboprop, the PW200 project has become a vital part of the Canadian Government's policy to estab lish an indigenous helicopter industry. Not only was P&WC encouraged to proceed with the Step/PW200 project, but contracts were awarded to two manu facturers to set up Canadian plants for the engineering development and production of helicopters. Joint helicopter ventures First, Bell Helicopter Textron was awarded a US$210 million contract for a new version of its Model 400 TwinRanger using the new P&WC engine in TwinPac form. Then MBB was awarded a contract for a derivative of its BO105LS to be powered by two of the new engines, but without a combining gearbox. The Model 400A and later Model 440 TwinRanger are to be developed and manufactured by Bell Helicopter Canada at Mirabel, Quebec, while a new version of the BO105LS is to be engineered and built by MBB Helicop ter Canada at Fort Erie, Ontario, in asso ciation with Fleet Industries. The Canadian Government is supplying some C$100 million toward estimated PW200 development costs of C$252 million. The Federal Government is providing C$468 million of the total C$1,700 million needed to fund research and development of P&WC engine programmes between 1984 and 1993. Of 26 this, C$279 million is being made available within the first five years and C$189 million in the second five. Despite being owned by United Tech nologies, P&WC has a high degree of autonomy and has been highly successful both technically and commercially. The Canadian Government has said it expects the new decade of work to generate up to C$20,000 million in revenue over the prod uct lives of the programmes it is helping to finance. It is P&WC policy to use Canadian suppliers wherever practicable. Some engine parts had to be ordered from specialised companies abroad, but the PW200 design simplicity has reduced the need for such imported components. The Canadian content of the PW200 is higher than that for the PT6. P&WC could not have embarked upon such massive research and development without Government backing. With such support, the company can compete successfully against foreign manu facturers which have substantial military support for all areas of powerplant research, development, and manufacture. In the USA, P&WC faces direct competition for the PW200 from Allison with its Model 250 turboprop/turboshaft developed from the military T63, while its PW100 series is competing with General Electric's CT7, based on its military T700. Apart from the Allison 250, which the PW200 series replaces in both the Twin- FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 19 October 1985 ,
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