The Pratt & Whitney TF30 (company designation JTF10A Pratt & Whitney (P&W) had offered its JT8A turbojet for the airliner, but Douglas preferred to go with a turbofan engine, which would have a greater fuel efficiency than a turbojet. P&W then proposed the JT10A, a half-scale version of its newly developed JT8D turbofan. Development of the new design began in April 1959, Douglas shelved the model 2067 design in 1960, as the targeted US airlines preferred the newly offered Boeing 727.

In 1960, the United States Navy selected the JT10A, designated TF30-P-1, to power the proposed Douglas F6D Missileer, but the project was canceled in April 1961. Meanwhile, the TF30 had been chosen by General Dynamics for its entrant in the TFX competition for the United States Air Force and USN, which was selected for production as the F-111. The version of the TF30 for the F-111 included an afterburner.

Operational history

F-111

thumb|A TF30-P-109 from an RAAF F-111 at Defence Force Air Show RAAF Amberley, October 2008

The F-111A, EF-111A and F-111E used the TF30-P-3 turbofan. The F-111 had problems with inlet compatibility, and many faulted the placement of the intakes behind the disturbed air of the wing. Newer F-111 variants incorporated improved intake designs and most variants featured more powerful versions of the TF30 engine. The F-111E was updated to use TF30-P-103 engines, the F-111D included the TF30-P-9/109, the FB-111A used the TF-30-P-7/107, and the F-111F had the TF30-P-100.

RAAF F-111Cs were upgraded with the unique P-108 version, using a P-109 engine mated to a P-107 afterburner. The F-111 Engine Business Unit (later taken over by TAE) at RAAF Base Amberley became the world experts on the TF-30 in the years after the USAF retired their fleet and achieved extraordinary increases in reliability of the TF-30.

The TF30 proved itself to be well-suited to the requirements of a high-speed low-altitude strike aircraft with a relatively long operational range, and F-111s in all guises would continue to use TF30s until their retirement.

A-7

In 1964, the subsonic LTV A-7A Corsair II won the US Navy's VAL competition for a light attack aircraft to replace the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The A-7A used a non-afterburning variant of the TF30, which would also power the improved A-7B and A-7C. In 1965, the USAF selected the A-7D as a replacement for its fast-jet F-100 and F-105 supersonic fighter-bombers in the close air support role. Though the USAF had wanted the TF30, Pratt & Whitney was unable to meet the production timetable, because its facilities were already committed to producing other engines. Instead of producing the TF30 under license for P&W, the Allison Engine Company offered to the Air Force its TF41 turbofan, a license-built version of the RB.168-25R Spey. The USAF selected the more powerful TF41 for the A-7D, as did the USN, for its similar A-7E.

;YTF30-P-1

;TF30-P-1: / with afterburner.

;TF30-P-1A:Similar to -1 with a fuel filter-heater instead of a fuel filter, initially powered first two prototype F-111B.

;TF30-P-6A

;TF30-P-6C

;TF30-P-6E

;TF30-P-7: / with afterburner

;TF30-P-8:, initially powered the A-7B/C.

;TF30-P-9: / with afterburner

;TF30-P-12: / with afterburner, powered the two pre-production F-111B.

;TF30-P-12A:Similar to -12 with a fuel filter instead of a fuel filter-heater and deactivated wave-off feature, powered early production FB-111A.

;TF30-P-107: / with afterburner, redesignated -7 upgraded with -100 components under the Pacer 30 program

;TF30-P-108RA:Redesignated -108 when in RAAF service, powered the F-111G.

;Pratt & Whitney/SNECMA TF106:A derivative of the TF30 to power the Dassault Mirage IIIV VTOL fighter.

;Pratt & Whitney/SNECMA TF306C:A derivative of the TF30 tested in the Dassault Mirage F2.

;Pratt & Whitney/SNECMA TF306E

<gallery>

File:TF30 Side Cut Turbine Detail.jpeg|Combustion chamber and turbine.

File:TF30 Side Cut Compressor HP.jpeg|High pressure compressor.

File:TF30 Side Cut Compressor.jpeg|Compressor.

File:TF30 Side Cut Compressor LP.jpeg|Low pressure compressor and fan.

File:TF30 Side Cut.jpeg|Cut out of a TF30-P-6

</gallery>

Applications

Source:

|type=Turbofan

|length=

|diameter= maximum

|weight=

|compressor=2 spool axial: 3 fan and 6 low pressure stages, 7 high pressure stages

|combustion=can-annular ("cannular")

|turbine= 1 stage high pressure turbine, 3 stage low pressure turbine

|fueltype=

|oilsystem=

|power=

|thrust= max continuous, intermediate (military), with afterburning

|compression=19.8

|bypass=0.878:1

|aircon=

|turbinetemp=

|fuelcon=

|specfuelcon=

|power/weight=

|thrust/weight= 5.26

TF30-P-100

See also

References

  • Pratt & Whitney TF30 historical page
  • "Navy Faults Engine in Female Pilot's Crash", NY Times March 1, 1995