Pratt & Whitney, U.S. Air Force Complete Qualification for F135 Engine Testing at Tinker Air Force Base

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, together with its U.S. Air Force partner at the F135 Heavy Maintenance Center (HMC) at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, celebrated another significant milestone – qualification for F135 engine testing at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex (OC-ALC).

OC-ALC – which in addition to engine testing is also qualified to perform maintenance and repair work on F135 fan modules – is on target to complete the remainder of its F135 qualifications and be fully activated as the first F135 depot by the fourth quarter of 2015.

"This is another great example of the type of successful public-private partnership we've already seen on the F119 and the F117," said Sam Anderson, Pratt & Whitney's general manager of Oklahoma City Operations. "The U.S. Air Force has been a great teammate in each of our partnerships at OC-ALC."

Pratt & Whitney and the U.S. Air Force partner to perform depot maintenance on F117, F119 and F135 engines at OC-ALC, in addition to special technology coatings operations. Under the partnership arrangement, Pratt & Whitney provides the overall management, technical support and materials management at the HMC while the Air Force provides highly capable mechanics and extensive back shop capabilities.

A key requirement to perform depot maintenance on the F135 is the capability to conduct engine testing. The Air Force relocated a T-9 test cell from Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, to OC-ALC at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where Pratt &Whitney and the Air Force worked closely together to design, develop and qualify the test capability. This was a significant accomplishment by the partnership and marks the first time a T-9 test cell has been qualified for testing of a 5th generation engine. 

"The F135 HMC is open for business," said Anderson. "We have completed the first fan module repair and first retrofit engine, and we are focused on upgrading F135 propulsion systems for Marine Corps IOC in 2015."

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

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 government procurement priorities and practices, budget plans and availability of funding, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in  United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Matthew Bates
Pratt & Whitney Military Engines
Mobile: +1-860-371-9857
[email protected]

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney