Europe innovation: TECH800 turboshaft demonstration for future helicopter turboshaft engine

Brussels, 6-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The official celebration of the first rotation of TECH800 turboshaft demonstrator took place on Friday 26 April, in Pau (France), in the presence of Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Transport and Vice-President of the European Commission, Eric Dautriat, Executive Director of Clean Sky, Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Safran and Olivier Andries, Chairman and CEO of Turbomeca,

TECH800 demonstrator has been developed in cooperation with 34 partners from ten European countries including 18 SMEs and 12 universities and research centres. The technologies to be demonstrated in TECH800 will deliver reduced emissions in-line with the goals of the Clean Sky programme.

An innovative core engine demonstrator has been designed, manufactured and tested by Turbomeca for future helicopter turboshaft applications in the 800kW power class. Key technologies are related to the compressor architecture and performance, the combustion chamber enabling lower emissions, the turbine operating at a very elevated temperature and a high efficiency power turbine. This demonstrator offers a double digit benefit in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to the year 2000 state of the art, as well as breakthrough in noise attenuation, weight (composite, Titanium Aluminide components), and control system (fuel pumps, electric actuators…).

This event paves the way to a series of demonstrators on engines, aircraft, and helicopters as well as on systems and eco-designed parts, scheduled between 2013 and 2015. If successful, these technologies will be integrated in future products beyond 2016, in line with the needs of the European aeronautics industry.

The Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative is Europe’s largest aeronautics research programme ever with a budget of Euro 1,600 millions (50% EU / 50% Industry) on 7 years. It is dedicated to the demonstration of new technologies of the civil aircraft market, aiming at a dramatic reduction of CO2, noise and NОx footprints. TECH800 is one of the six engine demonstrators dedicated to propulsion in Clean Sky.

Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Transport, European Commission remarked “The public-private partnership of Clean Sky proves today that both sectors can produce the engines of the future; this partnership will bring research projects closer to their marketing and, through that, it will allow the European aircraft industry to maintain its position as a worldwide leader”

Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Safran added “The first spooling up of the TECH800 engine represents a major milestone. I hope that this success is the first in a long series, and that it will further energize the European aviation industry’s efforts to spur innovation. Europe’s position in the world of 2050 will depend on how ambitious we are today in terms of research and innovation.”

Eric Dautriat, Executive Director of Clean Sky concluded “Clean Sky was set up to bring significant technology changes regarding the environment impact of aviation. Today’s demonstration shows that we are on track to meet our objectives.”

* * * *Clean Sky is the largest European aeronautics research programme ever, with a €1.6billion budged over seven years, of which half is contributed by the European Commission in cash and half by the European aeronautics industry, in kind. This public-private partnership aims at developing cutting-edge technology to manufacture cleaner and quieter aircraft in order to establish an innovative and competitive Air Transport.

For further information, please visit www.cleansky.eu

Or contact: Maria-Fernanda Fau, Communication Officer Tél : +32 -2-221 81 59 – maria-fernanda.fau@cleansky.eu

Safran is a leading international high-technology group with three core businesses: Aerospace (propulsion and equipment), Defence and Security. Operating worldwide, the Group has 62,500 employees and generated sales of 13.6 billion euros in 2012. Working alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. The Group invests heavily in Research & Development to meet the requirements of changing markets, including expenditures of 1.6 billion Euros in 2012. Safran is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and is part of the CAC40 index.

For more information, www.safran-group.com / Follow @SAFRAN on Twitter

Turbomeca (Safran) is the leading helicopter engine manufacturer, and has produced 70,000 turbines based on its own designs since the company was founded. Offering the widest range of engines in the world and dedicated to 2,500 customers in 155 countries, Turbomeca provides a proximity service thanks to its 17 sites, 28 Certified Maintenance Centers, 18 Repair & Overhaul Centers, and 90 Field representatives and Field technicians. Microturbo, the subsidiary of Turbomeca, is the European leader in turbojet engines for missiles, drones and auxiliary power units.

For more information: www.turbomeca.com

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