Pratt & Whitney's promises over the geared turbofan's step change in fuel burn for mainline single-aisle airliners are about to be put to the acid test as the first PW1100G for the Airbus A320NEO is prepared for flight. The flight tests, due to begin by June on one of Pratt's two Boeing 747SP flying testbeds, will be critical to assessing not only fuel consumption, but also operability and overall performance in advance of flights on the first reengined A320 late next year. The PW1100G is the first of the new-generation mid-thrust turbofans to fly. The competing CFM Leap-lA from the alliance of General Electric and Snecma, is not due to begin ground trials until September, and will start test flights in 2014.
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