The Pratt & Whitney PW2000 is a high-bypass turbofan developed for the Boeing 757. Its military derivative, designated F117, powers the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. The family occupies the approximately 37,000–43,000-pound thrust class and combines airline passenger and freight applications with military transport work.[1]
Programme history
The programme was launched in December 1979 and entered Boeing 757 service in October 1984. Pratt & Whitney identifies it as the first commercial engine to enter service with full-authority digital electronic control, or FADEC. The digital control system was a significant part of the engine's technological identity, alongside the aerodynamic and mechanical design of the turbofan itself.[2][1]
Characteristics and models
The PW2000 has a 78.5-inch fan and a published bypass ratio of 6:1. Manufacturer specifications list overall pressure ratios of 27.6:1 to 31.2:1 and takeoff ratings of 38,400–43,734 pounds across the represented models. Named production versions include the PW2037, PW2040 and PW2043. The PW2040 also powers the US Air Force's C-32A, a military aircraft derived from the 757.[1]
Increased durability and thrust
Pratt & Whitney introduced the Reduced Temperature Configuration, normally abbreviated RTC, to improve durability and time between removals. Certification came in September 1993, followed by revenue service in March 1994. The subsequent PW2043 was certified in March 1995 and offered a nominal 43,000-pound rating. Its applications included the stretched Boeing 757-300, on which it entered service in July 2002.[2]
Operational range
The family gained 180-minute extended-range twin-engine operations approval in April 1992. This supported long routes for the twin-engine 757, including operations over oceans. In parallel, the F117 derivative accompanied the C-17's first flight in September 1991. The two applications illustrate how the same propulsion family could support a narrowbody airliner and a much larger four-engine military airlifter.[2]