The Garrett TFE731 (now Honeywell TFE731) is a family of
geared turbofan
The geared turbofan is a type of turbofan aircraft engine, with a gearbox between the fan and the low pressure shaft to spin each at optimum angular velocities.
Technology
In a conventional turbofan, a single shaft (the "low-pressure" or LP sh ...
engines commonly used on
business jet
A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people. Business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by pub ...
aircraft.
Garrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Compa ...
originally designed and built the engine, which due to mergers was later produced by
AlliedSignal
AlliedSignal was an American aerospace, automotive and engineering company created through the 1985 merger of Allied Corp. and Signal Companies. It subsequently purchased Honeywell for $14.8 billion in 1999, and thereafter adopted the Honeywell n ...
and now
Honeywell Aerospace
Honeywell Aerospace is a manufacturer of aircraft engines and avionics, as well as a producer of auxiliary power units (APUs) and other aviation products. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, it is a division of the Honeywell International conglome ...
.
Since the engine was introduced in 1972, over 11,000 engines have been built, flying over 100 million flight-hours.
Development
![TFE731-4R two](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/TFE731-4R_two.JPG)
The TFE731 was based on the core of the TSCP700, which was specifically developed for use as the
auxiliary power unit
An auxiliary power unit (APU) is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115&n ...
(APU) on the
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is an American trijet wide-body aircraft manufactured by McDonnell Douglas.
The DC-10 was intended to succeed the DC-8 for long-range flights. It first flew on August 29, 1970; it was introduced on August 5, 1971, ...
. The design featured two important factors: low fuel consumption, and low noise profiles that met the newly established U.S. noise abatement regulations.
The first test run of the TFE731 occurred in 1970 at Garrett's plant in
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area located in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is part of what is known as the South Bay (Los Angeles County), South Bay region of the m ...
. The first production model, the TFE731-2, began rolling off the assembly line in August, 1972, and was used on the
Learjet 35/36
The Learjet Model 35 and Model 36 are a series of American multi-role business jets and military transport aircraft manufactured by Learjet. When used by the United States Air Force they carry the designation C-21A.
The aircraft are powered by ...
and
Dassault Falcon 10
The Dassault Mystère/Falcon 10 is an early corporate jet aircraft developed by French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. Despite its numbering sequence it was actually developed after the Falcon 20, and although it is sometimes considere ...
, both of which entered production in 1973.
The TFE731-3 was developed for use in the
Lockheed JetStar
The Lockheed JetStar (company designations L-329 and L-1329; designated C-140 in US military service) is a business jet produced from the early 1960s to the 1970s. The JetStar was the first dedicated business jet to enter service, as well as t ...
re-engining program, and subsequent versions of it have been used on a number of aircraft, including the
Learjet 55
The Learjet 55 "Longhorn" is an American business jet manufactured by Learjet.
Development and design
The Learjet 50 series was first announced at the 1977 Paris air show with larger cabins than the existing Learjets. The series was to have thre ...
.
In 1975, the TFE731 was named Aviation Product of the Year by
Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and internet company. First founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology-oriented media websites, online shopping-related services, an ...
.
The -5 model was certified in 1982, and a decade later, an engine utilizing the TFE731-5 power section and a TFE731-3 fan was built and designated the TFE731-4, intended to power the
Cessna Citation VII
The Cessna Citation III is an American business jet produced by Cessna and part of the Citation family.
Announced at the October 1976 NBAA convention, the Model 650 made its maiden flight on May 30, 1979, received its type certification on April ...
aircraft.
The most recent version is the TFE731-50, based on the -60 used on the
Falcon 900DX, which underwent its flight test program in 2005. Honeywell has developed this engine complete with nacelle as a candidate to retrofit a number of aircraft equipped with older engines.
Design
The TFE731-60 has an inlet diameter of 0.787 m. The fan consists of 22 fan blades, 52 exit-guide vanes, and ten struts, and is driven by a gearbox. The five-stage compressor has four axial (LP) stages and one radial or centrifugal (HP) stage.
Variants
;TFE731-2
;TFE731-3
;TFE731-4
;TFE731-5
;TFE731-20
;TFE731-40
;TFE731-50
;TFE731-60
;TFE731-1100
Applications
Jet trainer
A jet trainer is a jet aircraft for use as a trainer, whether for basic or advanced flight training. Jet trainers are either custom designs or modifications of existing aircraft. With the introduction of military jet-powered aircraft towards the e ...
s
Business jet
A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people. Business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by pub ...
s
Specifications
See also
Notes
References
*
*
External links
Honeywell TFE731 official website
{{Garrett/Honeywell aeroengines
Centrifugal-flow turbojet engines
Geared turbofan engines
TFE731
The Garrett TFE731 (now Honeywell TFE731) is a family of geared turbofan engines commonly used on business jet aircraft. Garrett AiResearch originally designed and built the engine, which due to mergers was later produced by AlliedSignal and n ...
Medium-bypass turbofan engines
Mixed-compressor gas turbines
1970s turbofan engines