Garrett TPF351-20 Engine Flight Test and Ground Test Performance

The Garrett TPF351-20 engine design program was initiated in October of 1987. The engine was selected by Embraer to power the CBA123 “Vector”, a high-speed commuter “pusher” aircraft. The first engine test was successfully completed on May 19, 1989, nineteen months after design initiation. Subsequent testing has been done on indoor and outdoor propeller test stands at Garrett test facilities. Additionally, testing was successfully completed on Garrett's Boeing 720 flying test bed in July of 1990.

An aggressive aircraft test program on the first prototype CBA123 aircraft in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, also began in July of 1990. This was soon followed by a flight of the aircraft to the Farnborough Air Show in September of the same year. This paper describes this test program and some unique features used to expedite the program.