PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - B747-100 engine problems on early versions
Old 30th Jun 2008, 11:25
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WHBM
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
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Makes you wonder if the early JT9D was the start of the long road downhill for Pratt & Whitney.

By 1970 Pratts had a virtual monopoly of the civilian jet market. Boeing and Douglas used them exclusively on their model range, small to large. GE were not into civilian aircraft (despite having done the engine for the Lockheed Galaxy, which seems to have been a lot more reliable than the early JT9Ds), and Rolls were reduced to a few niche British-built aircraft.

But after the JT9D Pratts were never held in the same high regard again. The Tristar went for Rolls, and while the DC-10 offered GE and P&W equally, only two airlines ever went for the Pratt engine. The A300 started with GE, P&W coming along later in second place. Likewise the 757 (choice between Rolls and Pratt) and the 767 (GE or Pratt), P&W were regarded as second choice. And so onward through subsequent types.

Nowadays they seem to be slowly but steadily dropping market share percentage every year. Somehow the far-ahead leader lost it.
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