Hamilton Sundstrand variable frequency starter generators successfully started the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The engine start occurred May 21 on Boeing's ZA001 development aircraft at Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility. Hamilton Sundstrand is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

"This was the first electrical start of a turbofan engine on a large twin-aisle commercial jet transport and Hamilton Sundstrand is proud to have partnered with the Boeing and Rolls-Royce teams on this success," said Tim Morris, Hamilton Sundstrand president, 787 Programs.  "To help ensure this successful start, we had conducted more than 7,400 engine starts throughout our system development, in engine testbed flight testing and in the Boeing 787 Airplane Power System Integration Facility at Hamilton Sundstrand in Rockford, Ill."

There are six starter generators on each Boeing 787: two auxiliary starter generators on the Hamilton Sundstrand-supplied Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), and two variable frequency starter generators (VFSGs) mounted on each Trent 1000 main engine.

An integral part of Hamilton Sundstrand's 787 Electric Power Generating and Start System (EPGSS), the starter generators collectively supply nearly 1.5 megawatts of power, which is enough to power about 400 homes, and more than five times the electric power on a current Boeing 767.  Combined with the elimination of the high pressure pneumatic system, this results in an overall reduction of power required at cruise.

Prior to engine start, the auxiliary starter generators start the APU that supplies power through the Hamilton Sundstrand primary power distribution system to each of the Hamilton Sundstrand starter generators mounted on the Trent 1000 gearbox system, also supplied by Hamilton Sundstrand. The VFSGs spin the main engine for starting, and once the engines come up to speed and are on line, the engine-mounted VFSGs automatically switch from starter mode to generate mode and provide electric power to the airplane.

The engine start process employs other Hamilton Sundstrand systems unique to this first more electric airplane, including a series of high power density motor controllers.

This engine start is the latest in a series of successful 787 starts for Hamilton Sundstrand, including the May 12 Auxiliary Power Unit start, and the May 16 initial start-up of the Nitrogen Generation System.

In addition to the EPGSS, Boeing also chose Hamilton Sundstrand to provide the 787's environmental control system, auxiliary power unit, remote power distribution system, primary power distribution system and high-voltage DC equipment racks, emergency power system, nitrogen generation system, galley cooling systems, and electric pump subsystem. Hamilton Sundstrand's Kidde Aerospace & Defense business is supplying Boeing with the complete fire protection systems package for the 787. The Hamilton Sundstrand engine gearbox system for the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 comprises the engine accessory gearbox, oil tank, and lube and scavenge pumps.

The 787 program is expected to generate more than $15 billion in revenue for Hamilton Sundstrand over the life of the program.