Pratt & Whitney's F135 Engine Featured in F-35 STOVL Ceremony

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney's F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) propulsion system will power the Lightning II aircraft that was unveiled today at Lockheed Martin's F-35B STOVL roll out ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas. Pratt & Whitney is the propulsion power provider for the F-35B STOVL. The aircraft's first flight is scheduled for May 2008. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

"The F135 STOVL propulsion system installed in the F-35B flight test aircraft has undergone extensive ground testing to demonstrate that it has the level of maturity and reliability needed to power these critical flight tests," said Bill Gostic, vice president, F135 engine programs, Pratt & Whitney. "The entire F135 team is proud to be a part of this event, and we all look forward to a continued successful flight test program in 2008."

Pratt & Whitney, the lead propulsion system provider, teamed with Rolls-Royce to develop the F135 STOVL to power the F-35 Lightning II. The Pratt & Whitney/Rolls-Royce F135 STOVL propulsion system has accumulated over 1,700 STOVL hours and over 4,300 total run hours. Pratt & Whitney's F135 engine has exceeded 8,500 system development and demonstration (SDD) ground test hours.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

    Stephanie Duvall                         Jennifer Whitlow
    Pratt & Whitney Military Engines         Pratt & Whitney
    860.557.1382                             860.565.9600
    stephanie.duvall@pw.utc.com              jennifer.whitlow@pw.utc.com