Pratt & Whitney Delivers First F135 Spare Engine to Eglin Air Force Base for F-35 Training Operations

PARIS, June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PARIS AIR SHOW -- Pratt & Whitney has delivered the first F135 spare engine to the U.S. Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to support F-35 Lightning II training operations to begin this summer. Eglin's 33rd Fighter Wing is a joint unit with Air Force, Navy and Marine squadrons that will conduct F-35 training for their respective services as well as the eight F-35 program international partners.  Lockheed Martin is scheduled to deliver the first F-35A aircraft to Eglin AFB in the coming weeks.  Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.  

"Delivery of the first F135 engine to Eglin in support of training operations is a significant milestone for the F-35 program. Pratt & Whitney looks forward to supporting the U.S. Services as they begin official training of this remarkable fifth generation multi-role fighter," said Chris Flynn, vice president, F135/F119 Engine Programs. "We have completed the delivery of the first two production lots of engines and have started engine deliveries in the third production lot.  In addition, we also recently signed a firm fixed-price contract for the fourth lot of production engines that meets the affordability objectives of our customer."

Pratt & Whitney has designed, developed and tested the F135 to deliver the most advanced fifth-generation fighter engine for the United States and its allies around the world.  The F135 is the only engine powering the F-35 Lightning II flight test program today with nearly 1,000 flights, 1,450 flight hours and more than 110 flawless vertical landings.  We've achieved these milestones while maintaining a flight test readiness level of 98%.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.  Please visit www.utcaero.com for news from Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies at the Paris Air Show 2011.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in the U.S. Government funding related to the F-35 and F135 programs, changes in government procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Stephanie Duvall
Pratt & Whitney Military Engines
Int'l Mobile: +1.860.614.0783
[email protected]

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney