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Geared Turbofan™ makes its first flight on an Airbus A340
Munich, October 15, 2008 - MTU Aero Engines has just passed another significant milestone when yesterday, in France's Toulouse, an Airbus A340 for the first time took off with a PW1000G Geared TurbofanTM engine demonstrator on its wing. The demonstrator completed the flight, about two hours in duration, without a hitch. Germany's leading engine manufacturer contributes the high-pressure compressor plus a key component, the high-speed low-pressure turbine, to the innovative geared turbofan concept. The engine program is being pursued jointly by Pratt & Whitney and MTU. The new propulsion concept will provide drastic improvements in fuel burn, CO2 emission, engine noise, and maintenance cost.