Pratt and Whitney showed off its new Geared Turbofan engine "on wing" in Connecticut for the first time since it went into commercial service.
An Airbus A320neo equipped with Pure Power Geared Turbofan engines visited Bradley airport.
The plane also performed a flyover at Pratt and Whitney’s facilities at East Hartford and at Middletown, where the engines are built, to celebrate going into service.
The Geared Turbofan is quieter and as much as 15 percent more fuel efficient than conventional engines.
It has seen huge demand, and the company has a backlog of thousands of orders. German airline Lufthansa was the first to use the engine on commercial flights earlier this year in Europe.
However, it’s also seen hitches in its rollout, with airlines complaining about technical problems with the new engine.
Pratt is not the only UTC unit involved in the PurePower and other systems on the A320neo.
UTC Aerospace Systems supplies engine controls and accessories for the engine. UTCAS, which has a major facility at Windsor Locks, also provides wheels and brakes, flight controls, cabin pressure and controls, electric power generation, and ventilation systems for the aircraft.
