General Electric spokesman Rick Kennedy sent us a response about the problems with the F136 engine that we reported yesterday. The problem with the engine, the alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, was raising eyebrows since Congress has pushed hard to keep development of the second engine alive over objections from the Pentagon and the White House.
The following is Kennedy's note:
In early October, GE/RR (General Electric/Rolls Royce) tested Engine 005 to maximum power and experienced normal operation and controlled shutdown, with all positive indications during the test procedures. Following normal shutdown procedures, a routine borescope inspection was conducted and damage to some turbine blades was discovered. Continued inspection revealed that a small lug from the diffuser vane, a non-moving part that directs air to the combustor, had broken free and caused damage to blade tips in the turbine section.
The development testing has been halted while a portion of the diffuser is re-designed. We are targeting to get the engine back on test by year's end.
Kennedy added that "rumors swirling that the engine's combustor had to be re-designed (are) completely false."
Other reports can be found at Aviation Week's Ares blog, DoD Buzz and the Lexington Institute.
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