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France-based Turbomeca, a subsidiary of Safran, has announced the completion of the first rotation of its TECH800 turboshaft demonstrator in Bordes, France.

The new core engine demonstrator has been designed, manufactured and tested by Turbomeca for future helicopter turboshaft applications in the 800kW power class.

It has been developed in cooperation with 34 partners from ten European countries, including 18 small-medium enterprises (SME) and 12 universities and research centres.

According to Turbomeca, the demonstrator offers a double digit advantage in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as well as breakthrough in noise attenuation, weight of the composite, Titanium Aluminide components and control system, including fuel pumps and electric actuators.

Safran chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Herteman said the first spooling up of the TECH800 engine was a milestone.

"I hope that this success is the first in a long series, and that it will further energise the European aviation industry’s efforts to spur innovation," Herteman added.

Key technologies of the TECH800 are related to the compressor architecture and performance, the combustion chamber enabling lower emissions, the turbine operating at a very elevated temperature and a high-efficiency power turbine.

The technologies to be incorporated in TECH800 are aimed at offering reduced emissions in accordance with the Clean Sky programme’s objectives.

"I hope that this success is the first in a long series, and that it will further energise the European aviation industry’s efforts to spur innovation."

If successful, these will be integrated in future products beyond 2016, in line with European aeronautics industry requirements.

The €1.6bn Clean Sky joint technology initiative is a European largest aeronautics research programme equally funded by the EU and the aerospace industry, and is dedicated to the demonstration of new technologies of the civil aircraft market.

It is aimed at a significantly reducing CO2, noise and N?x footprints.

TECH800 turboshaft demonstrator is one of the six engine demonstrators dedicated to propulsion in Clean Sky.

In March, Turbomeca launched turboshaft engine Arrano, which is designed to power 4t to 6t helicopters.

Image: Turbomeca’s new turboshaft engine, Arrano. Photo: courtesy of Groupe Safran.

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