Blades of glory: Flying high with GE’s new turboprops

Since buying some of the assets of Walter Engines in mid-2008, GE Aviation Czech — as it is now known — has opened the throttle by launching a new engine, being selected to power a new aircraft, receiving an engine research grant from the Czech government, and expanding its services and support network. Unlike our massive GE90 engines that power global carriers, or the new GEnx for Boeing’s Dreamliner, the engines being developed in the Czech Republic push GE Aviation into a different air space — one that focuses on the turboprop needs of smaller planes. With new deals inked last month, and engine testing milestones scheduled for this year, we asked Paul Theofan, president of GE Aviation Czech, to give us an update.

Getting your props: Immediately after the acquisition, GE announced the launch of the H80 turboprop engine, which can be used for general-purpose planes or those used in agriculture, such as for crop-dusting. Turboprop planes — which are usually much more economical on short journeys — basically use a turbine similar to those used in jets to spin a propeller.

Paul Theofan

As Paul, who called in from Prague, says in the audio clip below, “2009 was a terrific first full year for the new GE Aviation Czech.”

And when it comes to the new GE H80 engine — which was launched just after the Walter acquisition — Paul says that component testing as well as aeromechanical and performance testing are now underway. The first engine to test will start in the first quarter of this year with engine certification expected in mid-year.

Thrush Aircraft selected GE’s H80 engine to power an improved version of its crop-duster, which is expected to enter service next summer. Thrush has said the “additional horsepower and increased temperature margin of the H80 engine will enable Thrush 510 operators to carry larger loads in hot weather.”

Must dust: Thrush and GE also recently announced that the launch customer for the model using GE’s engine is a joint venture between Boschung Global AG and Inter Sinex AG of Switzerland. They plan to fly the new planes in Kazakhstan, which is the world’s seventh largest producer of grains and a major exporter of wheat.

* Learn more about Walter Aircraft Engines
* Read “Size doesn’t matter: Flying GE from Oshkosh to Wales” on GE Reports
* Read “Technology, thrills & GE deals fly at Oshkosh Air Show” on GE Reports
* Read the announcement about Thrush
* Read GE’s announcement about the Power 90 engine for King Air 90 aircraft
* Read the GE Honda HF120 engine announcement
* Read “The brave new world of agricultural aviation” on GE Reports