Airbus gears up for GTF flight tests.

The article reports that Airbus SAS is poised to begin testing of the Pratt & Whitney Corp. PW1000G geared turbofan demonstrator engine on its A340-600 flying testbed in Toulouse, France. As reported, ground runs were undertaken in the beginning of October 2008 ahead of the first test flight, which is expected in October. The A340 will fly a two-month, 75h flight-test programme with the GTF engine replacing the Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engine in the No 2 position.