Pratt and Whitney Canada (PWC) last week launched a new clean-sheet turbo-prop engine to augment their existing range.
PWC introduced the 1700-2300 shp PT9-11A at the National Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBACE) in Las Vegas, claiming the engine will produce 33% more power than the PT6 whilst consuming 20% less fuel.
Although PWC has no launch aircraft for the PT9, the company believes it can be adapted to a number of existing airframes.
According to the company, the engine centreline is of an all-new modular design that can be scaled to match several existing platforms. The company managed to keep the development and certification relatively secret from the industry whilst accumulating 14,000 hours of running.
"The PT9 engine represents the next evolution of turbo-prop propulsion, delivering significant advances in performance, efficiency and adaptability to meet the needs of modern aviation," said PWC president Satheeshkumar Kumarasingam.
"Designed around evolving customer needs, including advanced digital capabilities and future-ready hybridisation, its architecture can be tailored to diverse airframe types and provides a strong foundation for continued innovation and technology integration."
PWC has designed the new turbo-prop to sit in the range between the existing PT6 model family fitted to aircraft such as the Beech King Air and Cessna Caravan, and the PW100 series installed on regional airliners such as the ATR72 and Q400.
PWC will produce the PT9 in their plant at Lethbridge, Alberta.