LM JSF P&W engine completes altitude test

Sea Power, Apr 2000

The Lockheed Martin (LM) X-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) concept-demonstration aircraft moved a giant step closer to actual flight with the successful altitude testing of its Pratt & Whitney (P&W) JSF1 19-611 engine. The qualification is one of two prerequisites for flight certification of the X-35.

The JSF119-611 completed 125 hours of testing at the Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tullahoma, Tenn. "The engine performed flawlessly throughout the flight envelope," said Frank J. Cappucio, vice president and program manager for the LM JSF team. "Once again, P&W has built an engine for us that has demonstrated excellence in performance and operability."

The testing validated engine performance for all three X35 versions over the entire flight envelope, LM officials said.