"The Raven" wrote in message


There must be plenty of TF-33 parts around. You have almost 100 BUFFs
with 8 engines, now consider how many spares need to be in the supply
pipeline...............

Australia is managing with the 35 x F-111's and they make what can't
be obtained.

The F-111s use TF30s. Different engine altogether.

The cost of changing from one engine type to another, including spares
pipeline, spares, overhaul facilities etc etc are enormous for most
aircraft and take a long time to pay back (Caribou turbine
conversions excepted).

Last I knew, the idea was to lease the engines and pay by the hour for
actual run time. Overhauls would be on the owner, probably piggy-backed on
their commerical lines. The theory (no comment on practice) is that the Air
Force can thus spread the costs across the remaining 30-year life of the
planes.

--�
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"If brave men and women never died, there would be nothing
special about bravery." -- Andy Rooney (attributed)