Pratt & Whitney and Air Force Association Welcome U.S. Air National Guard F100-Powered F-16 Fighters to Connecticut

AST HARTFORD, Conn.,– Oklahoma Air National Guard (OK-ANG) pilots Major Ray Siegfried and Lt. Col. Scott Stratton landed two Pratt & Whitney F100-powered F-16 fighter jets on Friday, May 4 at Bradley International Airport for a special event presented by the Connecticut Chapter of the Air Force Association and hosted by Pratt & Whitney and the Connecticut Air National Guard. These recently re-engined fighter jets are part of the U.S. Air Force Air Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and will continue to support U.S. military deployments. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

“Our Pratt & Whitney engines provide us with greater power, safety and dependability to effectively complete our combat missions,” said Major Siegfried. The OK-ANG aircraft are part of a fleet re-engining program in which Pratt & Whitney’s F100-PW-229 engine model was selected in 2000. The fleet is scheduled to be fully upgraded in 2009.

More than 200 aerospace industry and military leaders gathered at Bradley International Airport to view two F-16 fighter jets from the Oklahoma City Air National Guard (OK-ANG) and the Connecticut Air National Guard’s A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. Major Siegfried spoke to the audience about his combat experiences.

“History has shown the F100-powered F-16 is an extremely effective weapon system,” said Warren Boley, vice president, Pratt & Whitney operational military engine programs. “The men and women of Pratt & Whitney are proud to be part of this celebration honoring our Air National Guard pilots and recognizing the service they provide the country"

The F100-PW-229 engine has the best safety record in the U.S. Air Force, with zero engine-related loss of aircraft (ERLOA) in 15 years of service. To date, more than 1,000 F100-PW-229 engines have been sold to customers worldwide to power F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft. The worldwide installed base of the F100 engine family encompasses more than 7,100 engines and more than 20 million flight hours in service.

Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F100 that powers the F-16 and F-15, the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II; F119 for the F-22 Raptor; F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III; J52 for the EA-6B Prowler; TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, and KC-135 aircraft; TF30 for the F-111; PT6 for T-6A and UH-1N aircraft; and JT15 for the T-1A trainer and Pegasus UCAV.