Pratt & Whitney F100

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F100 for an F-15 Eagle being tested
F100 for an F-15 Eagle being tested

The F100 is an afterburning turbofan engine manufactured by Pratt & Whitney which powers the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Contents

[edit] Development

In 1967, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force teamed up to invite engine proposals for F-14 and F-15 fighters. The combined program was called Advanced Turbine Engine Gas Generator (ATEGG) with goals to improve thrust and reduce weight to achieve a thrust-to-weight ratio of 9. The program requested proposals and would award Pratt & Whitney a contract in 1970 to produce F100-PW-100 (USAF) and F401-PW-400 (US Navy) engines. The Navy would cut back its order and later cancel its order choosing to use the TF30 engine from the F-111 in its F-14.[1]

[edit] Variants

[edit] F100-PW-100

The F100-100 first flew in an F-15 Eagle in 1972 with a thrust of 23,930 lbf. Due to the advanced nature of engine and aircraft numerous problems were encountered in its early days of service including high wear, stalling and "hard" afterburner starts. These "hard" starts could be caused by failure of the afterburner to start or by extinguishing after start, in either case the large jets of jet fuel were lit by the engine exhaust resulting in high pressure waves causing the engine to stall. While early problems have been solved, the engine still has a reputation of being "temperamental" and is still in the USAF fleet to this day.

It is recognized that the F100 was at the cutting edge of current technology, one study by the RAND Corporation places it almost 4 years "ahead of its time."[2]

[edit] F100-PW-200

The F-16 Fighting Falcon entered service with the F100-200, with only slight differences from the -100. Seeking a way to drive unit costs down the USAF implemented the Alternative Fighter Engine (AFE) program in 1984, under which the engine contract would be awarded through competition. The F-16C/D Block 30/32s were the first to be built with the common engine bay, able to accept the existing engine or the General Electric F110.

[edit] F100-PW-220/220E

The F100-220 incorporated the most advanced technology available, including the precision control and advanced maintenance features of digital electronic controls and the extended durability and reliability of metallurgical and heat-transfer advances. The F100-220 has established the best safety and mission capable rates in U.S. Air Force history. This model of the F100 was introduced in 1986 and could be installed on either an F-15 or F-16.

[edit] F100-PW-229

Using technology developed from the F119 and F135 engine programs for the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, the current production F100-229 incorporates modern turbine materials, cooling management techniques, compressor aerodynamics, and electronic controls. The first -229 was flown in 1989 and has a thrust of 29,160 lbf. It currently powers the X-47B.

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

  • Type: Afterburning turbofan
  • Length: 191 in (4,851 mm)
  • Diameter: 46.5 in (1,181 mm)
  • Dry weight: 3,740 lb (1,696 kg)

Components

  • Compressor: Axial compressor with 3 fan and 10 compressor stages
  • Bypass ratio: 0.36:1
  • Turbine: 2 low-pressure and 2 high-pressure stages

Performance

[edit] References

  1. ^ Davies, Steve. Combat Legend, F-15 Eagle and Strike Eagle. London: Airlife Publishing, Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-84037-377-6.
  2. ^ RAND. Birkler, J. L., J. B. Garfinkle, and K. E. Marks. Development of Cost Estimating Relationships for Aircraft Turbine Engines. Santa Monica, Calif. N-1882-AF. 1982.

[edit] External links

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