Pratt & Whitney has shipped its PurePower PW1000G geared turbofan demonstration engine to Toulouse, France, to begin a test programme on an Airbus A340-600 testbed in mid-September.

The testing with Airbus, the first manufacturer to fly the engine on its own flight test aircraft, follows completion of the first phase of GTF testing by PW on a company-owned Boeing 747 flying testbed. The engine completed 12 flights and ran 43 hours in tests focusing on performance and operability.

PW VP of next generation product family Bob Saia told ATI last week that PW achieved near double-digit improvements in fuel burn on the demonstrator and validated the 12%-15% improvement the manufacturer hopes to deliver in service.

In addition Saia says PW is "on the path to hit the maintenance cost values we've committed to for ANA and Lufthansa," who are launch customers for the PW1000G-powered Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the Bombardier CSeries.

PW plans to focus on engine performance and acoustic testing on the 75 hour, two-month test programme scheduled for the A340. Saia also says PW plans to work with Airbus to determine the ideal design for mounting engine components on the pylon to improve the aerodynamic characteristics.

"Test results will contribute to the company's long-term research and technology assessment of new engine configuration developments," says PW in a statement.