THE RTM 322 ― DESIGNED FOR POWER GROWTH

摘要

There has always been a requirement for the power of helicopter engines to increase during the operational life of the aircraft. This is usually as a result of changing operational requirements in respect of increased payload, equipment and extended range or expanded flight envelopes. Today there is also a complementary demand to enhance reliability, maintainability and reduce the overall life cycle cost of both the airframe and engine. The design philosophy at the conceptual stage of an engine's development dictates the ability to provide cost effective power growth as the engine matures. Power growth potential, allied with life cycle cost reduction, was a fundamental design requirement at the launch of the RTM 322. This paper examines the power growth strategy of the RTM 322 and explains how this influenced the initial design of the engine, allowing a growth path to be derived which could be followed whilst minimising the requirement for design change. It explains how advanced technology has been utilised to provide a simple and cost effective approach to power growth, whilst at the same time continually addressing the need to reduce the life cycle cost of the engine. The significant potential that exists for increasing power of the RTM 322, and concurrently addressing the requirement for reduced life cycle cost is explained as a low risk, low cost strategy made available due to the engine being designed for power growth at its inception.