Pratt & Whitney completed final assembly of the flight-test engine for the first Boeing JSF concept demonstrator, which is scheduled to flying in the spring.

The JSF119-614 is based on the F119 engine used on the F-22 Raptor. The engine is a low-bypass ratio turbofan that is in the 35,000-lb thrust class for the F-22 and the 40,000-lb thrust class for the JSF.

"Pratt & Whitney has been very efficient in its use of advanced design tools, such as 3-D solid modeling and assembly simulations, to reduce technical concerns and minimize engine assembly issues," said Steve Kyle, Boeing Propulsion System Integrated Product Team Leader.

JSF affordability will be achieved through the design of highly common engines and airframes for the JSF variants: short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL), conventional takeoff and landing, and carrier-based aircraft. The engines for all these variants share exactly the same core, fan, augmentor, and cruise nozzle—an approach that maximizes the commonality of the airframe design and lowers the life-cycle costs of the JSF engine.

Pratt & Whitney is building two developmental engines, two qualification engines, and two flight-test engines for the Boeing JSF program. Engine qualification testing for the Boeing JSF continues, as does developmental testing of the STOVL propulsion system, which will be used to demonstrate the Boeing direct-lift design on the X-32B (the second Boeing JSF demonstrator) later this year.

Both of Boeing's JSF demonstrators will meet the program's three concept-demonstration objectives: demonstrate commonality across the variants, including design/build processes; demonstrate the Boeing direct-lift propulsion concept for STOVL hover and transition; and demonstrate good low-speed carrier approach flying qualities. The first Boeing JSF will begin flight testing in the spring.

Frank Bokulich