Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100

The PW100 is a family of three-shaft turboprop engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, rated from about 1,800 to 5,000 shaft horsepower. Originally called the PT7, it began as a technology demonstrator in 1977, was first tested in March 1981, flew in February 1982 on a Vickers Viscount testbed and entered service in December 1984 on a Dash 8 regional aircraft for NorOntair. A low-pressure centrifugal impeller and a contra-rotating high-pressure impeller each have their own turbine, while a third shaft carries a two-stage free turbine to an offset reduction gearbox. The higher powered PW150, with an axial low-pressure compressor, was chosen for the Dash 8-400, and the PW127XT series was introduced in 2021 for ATR aircraft. The family held 89 percent of the turboprop regional airliner installed base in 2016.