Is it possible that one model aircraft has different engines?

Question

I saw a picture of Airbus a330. When I saw the first picture and the second picture, I have noticed that their engines were not the same.

Answer 1

Yes, happens all the time. The A330 is certified for General Electric CF6-80E1, Pratt and Whitney PW4000 or Rolls Royce Trent 700. Most 747s have been certified for Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney and General Electric engine options. There's usually more than one engine option and the buyers often obtain the aircraft and engines under separate deals.

Answer 2

There are some excellent answers here. Definitely you want to sit down and consider what mission you wish your new airplane to fulfill. Are you looking to fill all 4 seats with passengers? Long flights or short ones? How often are you going to fly it? Where will you keep it (hangar or outside)? Answers to these questions will help narrow your search of what airplanes are a good match. Beyond that, consider things such as maintenance cost, availability of parts (old doesn't necessarily mean no parts available), ADs on the airplane, and if the shop you plan on having the work done on your airplane is knowledgeable about the type. For your first airplane I would suggest keeping it simple and go with something there are a lot of copies of, namely a Cessna, Piper, Grumman or Beech product. Easier to find A&P's who know these airplanes and parts are plentiful. Once you make your decision, it's highly advised you seek the advice of experts to ensure the paperwork is all in order and what you're getting is really what you're expecting. I know AOPA offers this service, and I believe EAA will help too, though I cannot be sure. In considering the purchase of an aircraft, think about the possibility of NOT purchasing one. If your mission plan doesn't see you flying the airplane a lot, you're going to find the expense of maintaining the machine will far outweigh the usefulness of it. I'm not sure where you are, but you might consider looking around for flying clubs or partnerships. Clubs allow you to buy a "share" of the club and its assets (airplanes). Typically they run much like a business, with a fleet manager, an on staff A&P or a contracted A&P to maintain the airplanes and in larger clubs other support staff. Generally most flying clubs don't allow primary training, have higher quality, newer and more advanced airplanes, and very generous rules regarding your use of the airplane (disappearing with the airplane on a week long trip, for example). As most of the airplanes are either owned by a member who leases it to the club or owned by the club outright, the fees for using the airplanes are usually lower, and many times SUBSTANTIALLY lower, then renting from a pilot school. Most clubs I've had experience with also will bill your time using TACH time, not HOBBS time. This helps both the club (encourages lower power settings in cruise = less engine abuse) and the pilot (TACH usually calibrated to about 85% to 90% of redline, somewhere you really shouldn't be using a normal or economy cruise setting) save a great deal of money. Lots to consider. Just remember, be true to your mission. This is one thing where you want to make darn sure you make the right decision.

Answer 3

I fly 747's for a company, and some of our fleet uses GE engines, and some uses various models of Pratt and Whittney. Sometimes we don't even know which is which until we climb in the cockpit. It doesn't present too many extra challenges.

I've even flow aircraft with different models of Pratt and Whittney engines mounted on the same airplane. The newer engines are just de-rated (ran a little slower) so that the power output is the same as the older engines. This is usually a temporary solution while other engines are overhauled or maintained.

Answer 4

"Chris H" gave the best answer...

Modern Commercial aircraft are sold just like cars... you can get "OPTIONS" that include different model engines. SOME Nationally Flagged airlines have agreements with engine companies... eg: British Airlines is going to buy Rolls-Royce.

I flew in the SH-60B Seahawk... and I recall having UPGRADED models of the same engine entering the system... GE T700-GE-401C replacing the T-700-GE-400.
This was a safety upgrade as I recall (it's been over 20 years).

Answer 5

YES, some airplanes are designed and built for different performances and operational cost. If you see the different versions of a Boeing 737, you will see that the older versions have a longer and thinner engines than the newer versions. The newer engines are more efficient and more silenter.
If you go and see small airplanes, for example, the cessna 172, it comes with engines from 150 to 200 HP.

Hope i helped.

Answer 6

Yes. A380s' can have either: for the A380-841, A380-842 and A380-843Fthey only have 4 Rolls-Royce Trent 900 turbofan jet engines, for the A380-863F it's the Engine Alliance GP7000 turbofan jet engine.

Answer 7

Yes, it is possible for that to happen. They did the same for the A380. I think they do this to please their customers. A company would rather buy a plane with engines built in their own country, than buy a plane with engines from out-of-the-country. As Robert S said " British Airlines is going to buy Rolls-Royce".

Answer 8

The engines being as expensive are not really owned by the airline, as they are leased. The engine choice is a critical choice for operators as efficiency and maintenance costs are critical to any operator.

Answer 9

It's very possible. Aircraft go through different stages and classes all the time. It's sort of like upgrading a computer in the simplest of terms.

Answer 10

To answer your question correctly you have to go to the Type Certificate (T/C) for the aircraft available on the FAA web site. But the short answer is yes as follows:

As and example I copied part of Type Certificate (T/C) No. A20WE (B-747), which prescribes conditions and limitations under which the product for which the Type Certificate was issued meets the airworthiness requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The T/C explains which engines can be installed and how to intermix them as follows:

Engines:
4 Pratt and Whitney JT9D-3, JT9D-3A, or JT9D-7, JT9D-7A, JT9D-7F, JT9D-7J.

NOTE 5
The Pratt and Whitney JT9D-3 and JT9D-3A engines and the JT9D-3A, JT9D-7, JT9D-7A, JT9D-7F, JT9D-7Q, JT9D-7Q3, JT9D-7R4G2, and JT9D-7J engines may be intermixed in the combinations and with the appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Pratt and Whitney JT9D-7H engines may be intermixed with all JT9D-7 engines with appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Pratt and Whitney JT9D-7AH engines may be intermixed will all JT9D-7A engines with appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The General Electric CF6-50C engines may be intermixed with CF6-50E engines with appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Rolls Royce RB211-524B2-19, RB211-524C2-19, and RB211-524D4-19, and RB211-524D4-39 engines may be intermixed with the appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Rolls Royce RB211-524D4X-19 and RB211-524D4X-B-19 engines may be intermixed with RB211-524D4-19 and RB211-524D4-39 engines with the appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Rolls Royce RB211-524D4-B-19 and RB211-524D4-B-39 engines may be intermixed with RB211-524D4-19 and RB211-524D4-B-39 engines with the appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Rolls-Royce RB211-524B2-B-19 engines may be intermixed with RB211-524B2-19 engines, and RB211-524C2-B-19 engines may be intermixed with RB211-524C2-19 engines with the appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Rolls-Royce RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G3-19, and RB211-524H2-19 engines may be intermixed in the combinations and with the appropriate limitations noted in the FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Rolls-Royce RB211-524G2-T-19, RB211-524G3-T-19, and RB211-524H2-T-19 engines may be Intermixed in the combinations and with the appropriate limitations noted in the FAA-Approved Airplane Flight Manual.

The Rolls-Royce RB211-524G2-T-19, RB211-524G3-T-19, and RB311-524H2-T-19 engines may be Intermixed with RB524G2-19, RB211-534G3-19 amd RB211-524H2-19 in the combinations and with the Appropriate limitations noted in the FAA-Approved Airplane Flight Manual.