IAE International Aero Engines AG is a Zürich-registered joint venture aero-engine manufacturing company. It was founded during 1983 specifically to develop an aircraft engine to address the 150-seat single aisle aircraft market, the V2500 turbofan. Produced in collaboration between four of the world’s leading aero engine manufacturers, this engine has become the second most successful commercial jet engine program in production today in terms of volume, and the third most successful commercial jet engine program in aviation history. At one stage, IAE was also engaged in the development of the SuperFan, a geared turbofan derived from the V2500; however, work on this project was terminated during the late 1980s. During 2011, an extension agreement was signed between the partner nations to continue to participate in IAE through to 2045. History The original collaboration involved Pratt & Whitney of the United States, Rolls-Royce plc of the United Kingdom, Japanese Aero Engine Corporation of Japan and MTU Aero Engines of Germany. FiatAvio withdrew as a shareholder of the program early on, but the now-renamed Avio still remains as a supplier. The "V" product nomenclature remains as a legacy of the five original shareholders. Workshare on the joint venture's first engine, the V2500, was divided between the constituent aero-engine companies. Rolls-Royce based the high pressure compressor on a scale-up of the RC34B eight stage research unit used in the RB401-06 Demonstrator Engine, but with a zero-stage added at the front and a tenth stage added to the rear. Pratt & Whitney developed the combustor and the 2-stage air-cooled high pressure turbine, while the Japanese Aero Engine Corporation provided the low pressure compression system. MTU Aero Engines were responsible for the 5-stage low pressure turbine, while Fiat Avio designed the gearbox. The initial version of this engine, the V2500-A1, first entered service with Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways. During July 1986, IAE confirmed to conduct a preliminary design study for a concept examining a high-bypass engine which used the V2500 core components. This engine, commonly referred to as the SuperFan, had a projected maximum thrust of around 28,000–32,000 lbf while having only 80% of the V2500's specific fuel consumption. Prior to that study, the IAE shareholders Rolls-Royce plc, Pratt & Whitney and MTU Aero Engines had examined several configuration for a high-bypass engine, including several design features like a variable fan blade pitch, a geared fan or counterrotating concepts (geared as well as ungeared).