Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is celebrating the 60th year of PT6 engine production and the accumulation of one billion hours of flying on its various engine models since the company was formed nearly 100 years ago. More than 64,000 PT6s have been produced since 1963, accumulating more than half the hours flown by all the P&WC engines. The total number of P&WC engines made over the past 100 years is 110,000, of which 66,000 remain in service.
More than 155 different aviation applications are powered by PT6 engines, according to P&WC.
“Today's PT6 is up to four times more powerful, has a 50 percent better power-to-weight ratio, and up to 20 percent better specific fuel consumption compared to the original engine,” said P&WC president Maria Della Posta. “Aviation has the power to change the world. Our engines power aircraft that benefit millions of people every day. Every second, a P&WC-powered aircraft takes off or lands somewhere on the planet, whether they’re driving commerce, reuniting families, or powering humanitarian missions, emergency medical services, or search and rescue missions.
“Achieving one billion flying hours is made possible by the dedicated team at Pratt & Whitney Canada along with our customers, suppliers, and the extended P&WC community. We look forward to celebrating this achievement with them this year.”