This paper describes the development of a general program for the design and part load performance analysis of single-shaft-heavy-duty gas turbines. Efforts are made to fully represent the real component features by the characteristic models and special emphasis is put on the modeling of cooled turbine stages. The design analysis routine is applied to simulate the performance of current gas turbines and its appropriateness for system analysis is validated. Meanwhile, the component parameters of real engines which describe the technology level are obtained. The program is extended to predicting the part load operation of gas turbines with the aid of models for the off-design characteristics of compressor, turbine and other main components. Part load simulation can be carried out only with limited numbers of input data. It is demonstrated that the program accurately estimates the part load characteristics of real turbines.