Over the years, modern jet engines have undergone remarkable advancements, revolutionizing the world of aviation with their impressive power and efficiency. One prominent feature of these particular engines is their large fans, which have become a distinctive characteristic of the turbojet and turbofan engines we see in operation today. In this article, we will delve into the reasoning behind why tremendous sizes are employed for jet fans and why they are integral to the performance and functionality of modern aircraft engine assemblies.

Aerospace engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has recently unveiled that they have given brand new ten year contracts to four Italian suppliers (Aerea S.p.A., APR S.r.l., Mepit S.r.l., and NCM S.p.A.) worth upwards of $17 million.  The new contracts will allow each of the four companies to manufacture key components for Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engines.   This announcement is just the latest example of Pratt & Whitney expanding their global manufacturing network on behalf of their F135 engine program.

In an immense show of intercontinental collaboration, three different Japanese aerospace manufacturers have proposed a new partnership with Boeing to produce a new fleet of next-gen small passenger planes.  This new breed of aircraft would seat roughly 200 passengers and eventually replace Boeing’s 737 Max series.  If Boeing agrees to this deal, aircraft development would likely begin in the early 2020s, as the 737 Max itself has yet to be released.

Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of United Technologies, has introduced the PT6A-140A engine for the general aviation market. Touted as the most powerful and fuel efficient engine on the general aviation market, the PT6A-140A is ideal for operators flying utility aircraft in high-heat and high-altitude conditions. The PT6A-140A turboprop engine was developed to meet the demands of current flyers of PT6A-backed aircraft but who wish for advanced performance specifications.

The third hot fire test of an RS-25 engine of the Space Launch System has been completed at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, US. The engine was fired for 500 seconds. SLS is the newest rocket from NASA. It is being designed to send astronauts on future missions beyond Earth’s orbit. The Rocket will be equipped with four RS-25 engine and travel at speeds of 17,500 mph.

One month after the announcement that Aerojet Rocketdyne switched management, the Competitive Improvement Program was put into action by the company. This plan involves a forty percent reduction in facilities and a ten percent reduction in workforce. The most targeted facility will be the company’s headquarters near Sacramento, California, which involves an overall reduction from 230,000 square meters to about 140,000 square meters.

Rolls-Royce, which is a British multinational public holding company, is a major manufacturer of luxury cars, as many are familiar with, as well as aircraft engine manufacturing. The company specialized in the production of vehicles until the car business was split into Rolls-Royce Motors in 1973, with Rolls-Royce Holdings plc now focusing on aircraft engines.