Flight Global: US Air Force issues draft request for proposal to replace B-52 engines
The US Air Force (USAF) released a draft request for proposal to replace the engines of the ageing Boeing B-52H Stratofortress.
The notice brings the B-52H re-engine programme one step closer to kick off.
The service plans to buy 608 commercial engines – plus additional spare engines and support equipment – enabling it to operate the heavy bombers until at least 2050, a 23 April notice says. The USAF plans to award a contract in May 2021. The engines are to be delivered over 17 years.
The service’s fleet of B-52Hs have flown with Pratt & Whitney TF33-PW-103 engines since the early 1960s. The TF33 is based on the commercial JT3D that powered the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8. Each bomber has eight engines.
The USAF wants a military derivative of a commercial engine to replace those turbines.
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WNU Editor: The B-52H currently has an unrefuelled range of 7,650nm (14,200km). So depending on the engine selected, the aircraft’s range could be increased by 20% to 40%. In my book that is quite an incredible achievement.