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Background: An agreement on the Pratt & Whitney J T 9D turbofan aircraft engine has been signed between Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd, London, the SNECMA Company, Paris, and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. This relates to certain license rights on the engine and includes its application in large transport aircraft to be built in Europe, such as the proposed airbus.

Bristol Siddeley and SNECMA have started a development programme for a high pressure compressor within the framework of the development of the J T 9D engine by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.

The agreement is the result of discussions conducted by the three firms during past months.

Background note an J T 9D
The J T 9D turbofan is one of the most powerful jet engines in the world, developing 41,000 lb of thrust.

Four of these engines power the 490 seater Boeing "Jumbo Jet".

The diameter of the fan at the front of the engine is 7 ft 11 in, and the engine consumes more than half a ton of air per second at full thrust.

The J T 9D is only 10 ft 5 in long and weighs 7,000 lb and has a thrust - weight ratio of 5.26:1.