Geared turbofan with integral front support and carrier

A fan drive gear module comprising

• a sun gear;
• a multitude of intermediate gears surrounding the sun gear;
• a carrier including a multitude of flexible posts supporting a corresponding one of the multitude of intermediate gears, the carrier is configured to support a fan hub with a first fan bearing located on a first side of the carrier and a second fan bearing located on a second opposite side of the carrier, wherein the carrier is configured to be fixed from rotation relative to an engine static structure without a static flexible mount;
• an outer race of the first fan bearing is fixed relative to the fan hub and rotates with the fan hub in the same direction and at the same rotation speed;
• and
• an inner race of the first fan bearing is fixed from rotation relative to the carrier.

A method of designing a speed reduction device in a gas turbine engine comprising:

• positioning a speed reduction device between a fan hub and a low pressure turbine drive shaft, wherein the speed reduction device includes a carrier supporting a plurality of intermediate gears on a corresponding one of a plurality of flexible posts extending from the carrier;
• positioning a first fan bearing axially forward of the speed reduction device with an outer race of the first fan bearing fixed relative to the fan hub and rotates in the same direction and at the same speed relative to an engine static structure as the fan hub;
• and
• positioning a second fan bearing axially aft of the speed reduction device.