Pratt & Whitney Canada has unveiled its certified PT9 turboprop engine at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas, offering 33% more power at altitude and 20% lower fuel consumption than previous-generation engines. Designed for next-generation single- and twin-turboprop aircraft, the engine occupies the roughly 1,700–2,300-shaft-horsepower class between the company’s PT6 and PW100 families.
Transport Canada certified the PT9 on 1 October following a five-year development programme involving 12 test engines and more than 14,000 development hours. Its modular architecture is intended to support different airframe types and future integration with electric aircraft and hybrid thermal-electric propulsion systems.
Production is planned at Pratt & Whitney Canada’s facility in Lethbridge, Alberta, which also serves as the company’s PT6 turboprop centre of excellence. Serial production could begin in about 18 months, subject to customer agreements.
No aircraft application or launch customer has been identified. The PT9 is intended to expand the manufacturer’s portfolio rather than replace the PT6, while additional certification efforts are under way with the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.