PW4000
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Technical Specifications
- Thrust
- 412.0 kN (93500 lbf)
- Bypass Ratio
- 5.0:1
- Fan Diameter
- 2.535 m
- Pressure Ratio
- 35.0:1
- SFC
- 0.3300 lb/lbf·h
- Dry Weight
- 4630 kg
- Length
- 3.730 m
- First Run
- 1984
- In Service
- 1987
Overview
The Pratt & Whitney PW4000 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines that powered some of the most important widebody aircraft of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Spanning thrust ratings from 52,000 to 99,000 lbf across three distinct fan sizes, the PW4000 family is among the most versatile engine programmes in commercial aviation history. It powered the Boeing 747, 767, and 777, as well as the Airbus A300 and A310, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11.
The PW4000 introduced Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) to the Pratt & Whitney widebody engine lineup, enabling precise control across all operating conditions. Its two-spool architecture and advanced aerodynamics represented a significant advance over its predecessor, the JT9D, in fuel efficiency and maintenance interval.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Thrust (max) | 412 kN / 93,500 lbf |
| Bypass ratio | 5.0:1 |
| Fan diameter | 2.535 m (94–112 in, depending on variant) |
| Overall pressure ratio | 35:1 |
| Dry weight | 4,630 kg |
| Length | 3.730 m |
| SFC (cruise) | 0.3300 lb/(lbf·h) |
| First run | 1984 |
| In service | 1987 |
Variants
- PW4000-94 (94-inch fan): Entry variant for the Boeing 767 and Airbus A300/A310, rated 52,000–62,000 lbf. Most numerous variant by unit count.
- PW4000-100 (100-inch fan): Uprated variant for the Boeing 747-400 and MD-11, at 56,000–63,300 lbf.
- PW4000-112 (112-inch fan): Highest-thrust variant for the Boeing 777, at 74,000–99,040 lbf. This variant suffered an uncontained fan blade failure on United Airlines Flight 328 in February 2021 over Denver, leading to temporary grounding of the 777 fleet powered by this variant pending enhanced inspection requirements.
Aircraft Applications
- Boeing 747-400
- Boeing 767-200ER
- Boeing 767-300ER
- Boeing 767-400ER
- Boeing 777-200
- Airbus A300-600R
- McDonnell Douglas MD-11
Development History
The PW4000 programme launched in the early 1980s as Pratt & Whitney's response to increasing competition from Rolls-Royce and General Electric in the widebody engine market. First engine run occurred in 1984, and FAA certification followed in 1986. The engine entered service in 1987 with Delta Air Lines on the Boeing 767. Over the following two decades, the PW4000 was progressively scaled up, producing the 100-inch and 112-inch fan variants to power progressively heavier aircraft. The PW4000-112's 2021 incident accelerated the transition of 777 operators to the newer and more advanced General Electric GE9X on the 777X, effectively marking the beginning of the PW4000's withdrawal from front-line service on the largest widebodies.