Samwise Aeronautical Mechanics
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Farnborough Airshow Opens With Hundreds of Aircraft Orders on Day One
Day one of the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow produced a wave of narrowbody and widebody orders despite a subdued static display. Riyadh Air firmed up commitments for 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and six Airbus A350-1000s, converting 20 of the 787 options from the smaller 787-9 to the stretched 787-10. Irish lessor SMBC Aviation Capital placed a 100-jet 737 MAX order and a separate 100-aircraft A320neo family deal. Philippine Airlines committed to 15 Boeing 787-10s with options on five more. Singapore-based BOC Aviation confirmed orders for 300 CFM LEAP engines and separately up to 220 Pratt & Whitney GTF engines for incoming narrowbody jets.
Sources: Leeham News Simple Flying Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Boeing and SPEEA Engineers Union Both Express Optimism in Early Contract Talks
Boeing and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) are expressing mutual optimism in early negotiations over a new contract, a marked shift from the adversarial labor battles of recent years. The contract for approximately 17,000 Boeing engineers, scientists, and technicians expires October 6. Talks have not yet reached economic issues, but both sides are using a novel “interest-based” bargaining approach. SPEEA representative Rich Plunkett said negotiators have not “thrown things at each other” and praised Boeing’s willingness to listen. Boeing said it is working toward “a highly competitive offer that respects our team.”
Sources: Leeham News Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Pratt & Whitney NextGen GTF Engine to Add Ceramic Matrix Composites and Composite Fan Blades
Pratt & Whitney is incorporating ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and composite fan blades into its NextGen2 engine, the powerplant intended to replace the current GTF family on the next generation of single-aisle airliners. The move mirrors a technology crossover: while P&W adopts CMC and composite blade technologies pioneered by GE Aerospace in the LEAP engine, CFM is adding gearbox technology similar to P&W’s GTF in its RISE open-fan program. Rolls-Royce is developing the UltraFan 30 for the same narrowbody market, targeting 30,000–35,000 pounds of thrust with a ground-test demonstrator planned for 2028.
Sources: Leeham News Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Pratt & Whitney Valox 1500 Engine Completes Digital Design Review for Collaborative Combat Aircraft
Pratt & Whitney completed a key design milestone for its Valox™ 1500 engine, intended to power the next generation of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). A comprehensive digital assessment confirmed the engine design is on track to deliver an optimal mix of performance, affordability, and speed to market. The Valox 1500 targets a thrust range of 800 to 1,500 pounds-force for the U.S. Air Force’s forthcoming FQ class of CCAs. P&W received a contract valued at more than $10 million from the Air Force in late 2025 to advance the design. The Valox 1500 competes with Honeywell’s SkyShot 1600 and the GEK1500 from GE Aerospace and Kratos.
Pratt & Whitney Completes Demonstration Test of Additively Manufactured TJ150 Engine
Pratt & Whitney completed demonstration testing of its additively manufactured TJ150 engine, with nearly 60% of the engine by volume produced through additive manufacturing, including major static and rotating hardware. The test validated material behavior in an operational environment and demonstrated durability aligned with mission demands. P&W consolidated more than 50 individual hot-section components into a handful of 3D-printed parts and successfully tested a 3D-printed rotating turbine wheel. The TJ150 is designed for expendable applications where missions can last minutes to hours, and lessons learned are feeding the development of the Valox engine family for autonomous platforms.
GE Aerospace and NASA Achieve First Hybrid-Electric Flight Above 30,000 Feet
GE Aerospace, in partnership with NASA, BETA Technologies, and Boeing, completed the world’s first hybrid-electric flight above 30,000 feet using a modified Saab 340B testbed dubbed “Gertrude.” A fully integrated megawatt-class hybrid-electric propulsion system replaced the aircraft’s standard CT7 turboprop on the starboard side, delivering electric boost at commercial airline altitudes. The longest single hybrid-electric operation during the test campaign exceeded two hours. The aircraft flew the Atlantic from Plattsburgh, New York, arriving at Farnborough on July 14 for display at the air show, with initial high-altitude tests conducted over Vermont on May 20. The technology was developed through NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project.
Sources: GlobeNewswire Aviation Business News Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Edgewing Awarded £4.6 Billion GCAP Contract as Sixth-Gen Fighter Program Advances at Farnborough
Edgewing—the industrial joint venture of BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. (JAIEC)—has been awarded a £4.6 billion contract by the GCAP Agency to carry out 18 months of detailed design and engineering work on the Global Combat Air Programme sixth-generation fighter. Following Germany’s exit from the rival Franco-German-Spanish FCAS program, GCAP is now the only heavy, air-superiority, sixth-generation fighter open to export customers worldwide. A full-scale design mock-up is on display at Farnborough next to Hall 5. Canada has joined as an observer nation. The aircraft, measuring 19 to 20 metres, is targeted for service entry in 2035.
Sources: AIN Online Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Pratt & Whitney Canada Signs Five-Year PW127M Engine MRO Agreement with Emerald Airlines
Pratt & Whitney Canada signed a nearly five-year contract with Emerald Airlines to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for PW127M engines powering the Irish regional carrier’s ATR 72-600 turboprop fleet through 2030. Maintenance work will primarily be carried out at P&W Canada’s Singapore MRO facility, with additional support from its Montreal site. The PW100 engine family delivers 25% to 40% fuel savings and equivalent CO2 reductions compared to similarly sized regional jets on routes of 350 miles or less, and the engines are certified to operate with up to a 50% sustainable aviation fuel blend.
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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