Unison's electrical systems to support durable HF120 light jet engineLE BOURGET, FRANCE - July 18, 2007 - Unison Industries was recently named the Tier 1 supplier of electrical systems for the HF120, a new turbofan engine being developed by GE Honda Aero Engines to provide more thrust and achieve new standards of performance for fuel efficiency, durability, and low noise and emissions than other engines in its class. Unison will begin shipping electrical sets for HF120 engines in early 2008, in preparation for engine certification testing. The HF120 turbofan will power the HondaJet advanced light jet and Spectrum Aeronautical's "Freedom" business jet. To date, more than 200 engines are on order. One of the HF120's durability highlights is expected to be the engine's ability to operate in-service for an industry record-setting 5,000 hours before its first major overhaul, with no need to open the engine for interim hot-section inspections. GE Honda Aero Engines believes the added durability makes the engine ideally suited for high-utilization aircraft, such as the emerging air taxi segment, and envisions annual sales of at least 400 aircraft in the thrust class of the HF120 engine. HondaJet and the Freedom S-40 are both expected to begin service in 2010. "We are pleased to have a Tier 1 role in supplying the HF120 with electrical systems that will deliver the performance and reliability necessary to help meet its durability goals," said Paul Theofan, Unison's vice president of marketing and sales. "We are confident the quality of our engine products and experience will enable our systems to perform reliably beyond the testing and certification phase, for the life of the aircraft." Unison was awarded the 10-year contract to provide electrical systems for the HF120 turbofan in January 2007, with an estimated value of $45 million over the life of the agreement. Unison is manufacturing most of the system's electrical components at the company's plant in Jacksonville, Florida, with the exception of the temperature sensors, which will be produced at its Norwich, New York location, and wiring harnesses, which will be manufactured at Unison's plant in Saltillo, Mexico. The pressure and chip detector sensors are being outsourced to suppliers. About Unison Unison Industries, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary within General Electric Company's GE Aviation business unit. A leader in the design, manufacture and integration of electrical and mechanical components and systems for aircraft engines and airframes, Unison serves both original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers in the general, commercial and military aviation markets. Unison's headquarters are in Jacksonville, Florida, and it employs more than 2,000 people in nine manufacturing facilities and logistics centers worldwide. For more information, visit www.unisonindustries.com. About GE Honda Aero Engines GE Honda Aero Engines was established to design and manufacture engines in the 1000- to 3500-pound thrust class. With offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Reston, Virginia, the company combines the strengths of two industry leaders in performance engines to deliver a new standard in durability, reliability and economy for business aviation. More information on GE Honda Aero Engines is available at www.gehonda.com. - end - For More Information: Contact: Wayne Moles, Marketing Communications Manager (904) 739-4296 | ||
