The General Electric
T64 turboshaft engine was introduced in 1964 and pioneered a number of technical innovations that influenced future generations of GE engines.
These technical innovations included corrosion resistant and high-temperature coatings, front-drive free turbines and film air-cooled
turbine blades and nozzles. In October 1964, two T64 engines (T64-GE-3 with 2,850 shp each) powered the first flight of the YCH-53A,
the prototype aircraft for the CH-53A Sea Stallion.
Though no longer in production, T64 engines of today incorporate new design and material technologies that have improved performance
and reliability and have doubled the engine's original power rating.
Two T64-GE-413 turboshaft engines (3,925 shp each) power the CH-53D Sea Stallion,
which has six main rotor blades. The newer CH-53E Super Stallion
is a seven blade main rotor / four-blade canted tail rotor helicopter powered by three T64-GE-416A turboshaft engines (4,380 shp each).
The CH-53D/E aircraft are capable of both land and ship-based transport of heavy equipment, supplies and personnel.
One of the newest versions of the T64 engine, the T64-419, provides increased power (4,750 shp) for U.S. Navy
MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters.
The next generation CH-53, currently being developed by Sikorsky, will not be powered by the T64 engine.
In 2004, it was determined that a new-build airframe would be a more cost-effective solution
relative to upgrading existing CH-53 helicopters.
The future CH-53K King Stallion will be powered by three General Electric
T408-GE-400 (GE38-1B) turboshaft engines each rated at 7,500 shp.
The T408 provides 58-71% more power than the T64 engines that power the CH-53E/MH-53E with 18% lower fuel consumption
and 63% fewer parts. On August 4, 2011, GE Aviation delivered the first engine for Sikorsky's CH-53K Ground Test Vehicle.
Sources Used: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and General Electric Co.
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Engine Type: |
Turboshaft Engine |
Applications: |
CH-53D Sea Stallion (ret.) |
Status: |
In Service |
Manufacturer: |
|
Price/Unit Cost: |
$1.27-1.30 million |
By Joakim Kasper Oestergaard Balle /// Contact Forecast International
GE Aviation's T64 Page: Not Available
YouTube: General Electric T64 | YouTube Videos
Fact Sheet: General Electric T64
Manufacturer: General Electric Co. |
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