Abstract text

A method of manufacturing a fan blade (26) for a gas turbine engine by powder metallurgy comprises the steps of forming a container (52) and placing at least one metal insert (52) at a predetermined position within the container (52) and filling the container (52) with metal powder (60). The at least one metal insert (62) has a predetermined pattern of stop off material (68,70) on at least one surface of the metal insert (64,66). The container (52) is evacuated and then sealed. The container (52) is hot pressed to consolidate the metal powder (60) into a consolidated metal powder preform (72). The container (52) is removed from the consolidated metal powder preform (72). The consolidated metal powder preform (72) is heated and a fluid is supplied to the predetermined pattern of stop off material (68,70) to hot form at least a portion of the consolidated metal powder preform (72) to form the hollow metal fan blade (26).