World’s longest-range twin-engine jet gets new turbofan with up to 8% more thrust

A US-based aerospace equipment producer has reportedly delivered the first aircraft powered by its brand new GTF Advantage turbofan engine, which offers up to twice the time on wing and up to 8 percent more takeoff thrust. Connecticut-based Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced on September 24 that its GTF Advantage engine has entered service aboard an Airbus A321XLR delivered to United Airlines. It is expected to bring greater efficiency to the whole A320neo family. According to RTX, a global manufacturer of aerospace and defense systems that was formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, the jet engine will offer greater durability, more thrust, and longer-range capability aboard the Airbus A321XLR. The A321XLR is a long-range single-aisle jet that can fly up to 5,400 miles (8,700 kilometers). It is built to link destinations that were previously difficult to reach with single-aisle jets. “The first delivery of a GTF Advantage-powered aircraft to United Airlines signifies a new chapter in our relationship that spans nearly a century,” Rick Deurloo, Pratt & Whitney commercial engines president, stated. Improved engine durability Deurloo said that the new engine delivers between four and eight percent more takeoff thrust than the current GTF model. According to the manufacturer, the additional power helps enable longer-range operations. United is the first airline to get an aircraft with the novel engine standard. The GTF Advantage is also more durable and can deliver up to twice the time on wing. This refers to how long an engine can operate before it needs maintenance. The Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage engine.Credit: RTX At the same time, the GTF Advantage features what the company describes as the most advanced hot section in the single-aisle aircraft market. The hot section has parts exposed to some of the highest temperatures inside a jet engine. Despite the changes, the GTF Advantage remains compatible with the current GTF engine. This could simplify operations for carriers that operate aircraft with both engine standards. Pratt & Whitney aims to transition its entire PW1100G-JM production line to the GTF Advantage specification by 2028. “GTF-powered aircraft are helping us reduce fuel burn and improve reliability as we add new destinations around the world for our customers,” Ankit Gupta, United Airlines senior VP and chief air operations officer, added. Updating the existing fleet RTX revealed that operators of existing GTF engines will also have access to some of the durability improvements. Pratt & Whitney plans to offer its GTF Hot Section Plus, or HS+, upgrade for the current PW1100G-JM engine. According to the firm, the upgrade will allow existing engines to reach up to 90-95 percent of the durability benefits offered by the GTF Advantage. Meanwhile, the HS+ option is set to become available for installation during maintenance visits early next year. The engine the first in a new line that builds on the baseline GTF engine.Credit: RTX “We are excited to welcome Pratt & Whitney’s newest GTF engine to our fleet,” Gupta concluded in a press release. “Pratt & Whitney has been a key supplier for United Airlines throughout our long, shared history, powering multiple United aircraft types.” Pratt & Whitney has been developing aircraft propulsion technologies since 1925. The company currently supports more than 90,000 engines worldwide through its maintenance, repair, and overhaul network.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.