Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

Any "engine-eers" or anyone up in here that can give some input on turbofan engines? I was interested on which or what type of engine is going to replace the current engines on the A-10 with the supposed future engine upgrade plan. Anyone know the limitations to turbofan engines as far as speed or thrust and how a more powerful engine will affect low-speed maneuverability? I can't remember the source, but I read somewhere that there was already a (possible) engine proposal. The engine is being used in another type of aircraft, but again, the name escapes me. I'd like to see the A-10 with more thrust/top speed. Would it be possible to let's say double its current top speed of 400mph with turbofan technology? What are your thoughts and opinions....

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I seem to recall the Turbofan off the Viking was a contendor.

S-3 Viking: TF34-GE-2 with 9275lbf thrust each.
A-10 Thunderbolt II:TF34-GE-100 with 9065lbf thrust each.

I guess installation would be fairly easy, both belonging to the same family but a 400lbf total thrust increase seems a tad underwhelming. Guess it all makes a difference in hot conditions though.

Elite 1K Joined: May 26, 2005 - 08:39 PM Posts: 1496

The A-10 will never be supersonic with the wing it has, no matter how big its engines are.

On a side note, the F-16's engine is a turbofan as well, the difference being it is a low bypass engine versus the A-10's high bypass engines.

I believe they are CIVILIAN versions of that GE engine with higher thrust (nothing against General Electric) and like SafetyStick mentioned the S-3 Viking had a higher thrust version of basically the same engine. If won't make the A-10 supersonic but it would improve it's ability to operate "hot and heavy".

Remember also, that the S-3 is a bigger bird, and it needed a little more power in order to cope with the demands of carrier ops.

I don't really see anything wrong with the Warthog's engine. It doesn't really need to fly faster. It is well suited for the job it performs. Plus, a lot of the A-10's missions are now geared towards performing from a standoff position anyway.

I agree with FlightDreamz...

From what I've heard, the "upgrade" simply brings the Warthog's TF34 engine back to "standard" with it's Civilian counterpart the CF34. Military engines don't always get the "upgrades" in parts/technologies that the civilian world receives. (Mostly due to funding) GE has essentially been producing parts for two "different" engine specifications.(TF34/CF34) By the USAF "upgrading" the TF34 to "standard" it won't have to pay "extra" for outdated parts that GE no longer wants to produce do to the limited quantities of the A-10 flavor. There are far more Regional jets using this motor than A-10s...

This "upgrade" is most likely being pushed by GE's pricing on original specification parts costing more than "newer specification" parts in mass production. Two Cents

Keep 'em flyin' Thumb

TEG

I could be wrong, but I believe Canadair Regional Jets use the same engines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric_CF34

Looks like more powerful variants weigh a whole lot more. Maybe their could be a new variant developed? The only other engine in the 10k thrust class in my (2 minute) research is the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW810... 10k thrust class.

I take it that the Powers that be probably shelved this proposal, especially since some squadrons were disbanded and their birds reshuffled and/or mothballed. Anyone know how many are still flying, and how long do you think they will keep them around?

I sure miss the 131st here. Crying or Very sad

Existing birds are being upgraded to C model standard. There is also a fleet-wide wing inspection in progress. The older, thin-wing birds are having their wings replaced. After that, the avionics upgrade will continue, so that all existing flyable jets will be converted to C's.

TC wrote:

Existing birds are being upgraded to C model standard. There is also a fleet-wide wing inspection in progress. The older, thin-wing birds are having their wings replaced. After that, the avionics upgrade will continue, so that all existing flyable jets will be converted to C's.

The C's here at Nellis are having the ol' gun gas ingestion stalls again. 234 kept "visiting" us at Creech until it finally cracked it's wing.

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

A-10 engine upgrade