Pratt & Whitney Canada expects to make the first flight of the PW610F for the Eclipse 500 on its Boeing 720 testbed at the end of the month, with delivery of the first prototype engines to Eclipse by the end of the year.

P&WC adds it is "on track" to deliver the first PW615F shipset to Cessna for the Citation Mustang in February 2005. The twin-track development effort is being "driven" by the certification of the Mustang, and is "on track" for late 2005. Certification of the PW610F for the Eclipse is set for the first quarter of 2006.

Cessna has begun assembly of the first Mustang and is continuing flight tests of the PW615F on a CitationJet testbed. First flight of the Mustang is due next year, leading to certification and first delivery in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Eclipse 500 is set for certification and delivery in March 2006.

General Electric and Honda, meanwhile, are to create a 50:50 joint venture - GE Honda Aero Engines based in Cincinatti, Ohio - to build and market the HF118 small turbofan, covering a 1,000-3,000lb thrust range (4.5-13kN), with the initial version rated at 1,600lb. The HF118 is being considered for the Avocet ProJet and a light business jet being studied by Embraer.

Source: Flight International