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Aviation History
1973
1973 - 0040.PDF
30 FLIGHT International, 4 January 1973 TURBINE ENGINES OF THE WORLD Boeing towards the installation of the F103-GE-100 in a 747 in support of the USAF's programme for an Advanced Airborne National Command Post (AABNCP). Also the CF6-50 (presum ably as the F103) has been chosen by Boeing as an alternative power unit (to Pratt & Whitney JT9D) for its twin-engined AMST design for the USAF. The competing Lockheed design is powered by four P&W TF33 turbofans. The picture in the 40,0001b and upwards sector is relatively clear-cut. The TF39 has reached the end of its present produc tion run, though more C-5As may be ordered. P&W's JT9D has been pushed out of the AABNCP (Advanced Airborne National Command Post) 747, no doubt on the basis of the CF6-50's more advanced development in the 50,0001b-thrust category. The outstanding questions are (1) which of the two competing AMST designs will be chosen; and (2) if it is Boeing, which of the two possible powerplants, the CF6-50 (F103) or JT9D? If the Boeing design is chosen then the selection of the F103 for the AABNCP—coupled also with the benefits of any commonality remaining between the TF39 and F103 core engines—may possibly sway matters in the latter's favour. SUBSONIC AND SUPERSONIC 20,000lb, 89kN-30,0001b, 134kN AL-7 ••-•-•"-•--• -•--• ••-••- ' ••-•- .'•--• ::.,.« >;| RMB-.y... .. ..... ...; ;... .. :•....-•.-.:-• :ffl»:;t^ 30,000lb General Electric F101 (USA) Augmented two-shaft turbofan. The F101 is under development for the North American Rock well B-IA Mach 2.2 strategic bomber for the USAF. The core engine ran in November 1971; the complete turbofan was tested without afterburner in January 1972 and with after burner in March. Twenty-five development engines have been ordered, plus 27 flight engines. The first flightworthy F101 is due to be delivered to NAR this October, and the B-IA first flight is planned for April next year. The F101 core engine was also proposed for the GE/Snecma CFM56 ten-tonne com mercial turbofan project but was blocked by the US Govern ment (on the grounds that it represented an export of tech nology essential to national security) at the end of last year. The F101 was also considered for Boeing's AMST design. F101-GE-100 Two-stage fan, nine-stage h-p compressor, annular combustor, single-stage h-p turbine, two-stage 1-p turbine, fully modulated afterburner with variable-area primary and secondary nozzles. Take-off 17,0001b dry, more than 30,0001b with afterburner; pressure ratio 27:1; length 181in; diameter 55in; weight approximately 4,0001b. Lyulka AL-7 (USSR) Augmented turbojet. Little has been reported of this engine except that, as the 22,0501b AL-7F-1, it powers the Sukhoi Su-7MF ground-attack fighter. Pratt & Whitney F100 (USA) Augmented two-shaft turbo fan. P&W was chosen to develop the joint F100/F401 engine for the USAF F-15 and USN F-14B fighters in February 1970. These two turbofans have the same core engine, but the F100 for the F-15 has a smaller fan and afterburner to optimise its operation for the supersonic (as opposed to loiter) role. Its Preliminary Flight Rating Test (PFRT) was successfully completed in March last year and the first of a development batch of 20 F-15As flew in July. The Military Qualification Test is scheduled for the first quarter of this year. Develop ment problems with the engine, including excess weight, and the lack of a USN order for the F-14B have caused problems with the F100 programme, and are coupled with possible cut backs in initial purchases of the F-15. Total orders for the F-15 over the next five years should amount to 729 aircraft, includ ing TF-15 trainers. P&W anticipates an eventual requirement for more than 1,500 engines and regards the F100 as its most important programme. Other applications concern the General Dynamics Model 401/YF-16, an advanced attack version of the LTV V-519, the space shuttle vehicle (where these engines would act as landing-assistance units), and the possibility of an F-15 variant as the USAF's new Improved Manned Inter- cepter (IMI). F100-PW-100 Three-stage fan, ten-stage h-p compressor, annular combustor, two-stage h-p and 1-p turbines, close- coupled afterburner with "balanced-beam" convergent-diver gent nozzle. Take-off approximately 20,0001b dry and 29,0001b with afterburner; length 191in; diameter 37in; weight under 3,0001b. Pratt & Whitney F401 (USA) Augmented two-shaft turbo fan. The F401 is under development, as a derivative of the F100, for Grumman's F-14B but no production option has been exercised by the USN. Development of the F100 and F401 is the responsibility of the USAF/USN Joint Engine Project Office. The F401 has also been selected for the North American Rockwell shipboard, augmentor-wing V/Stol fighter, two prototypes of wnich are being built under USN contract. The configuration is similar to that of the F100 except for an additional "booster" stage behind the fan to supercharge the h-p compressor flow. The fan has variable exit vanes. Take-off thrust of the F401-PW-100 with after burner is approximately 28,5001b. The G£ FIOI was designed for the swing-wing B-IA bomber, successor to the B-52, and was also proposed as the basis for a civil engine with Snecma. US Government intervention in this agreement may be a significant step in future collaborative programmes with the US
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