"Thomas Schoene" wrote in message
nk.net...
"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.

Agreed the engines are different but the point was that a small country can
maintain 35 "obsolete" aircraft and produce all the necessessary engine
parts. The US B-52 fleet by comparison is massive so, one would assume that
would be a more economically viable solution.


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.

That's a valid way to do it. Some airforces already use commercial lines for
engine repairs and overhauls.

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.

True, but the cost of such changes often represents a huge spike in the
overall life cycle cost with comparitively little time to recover the costs
through lower operating expenses etc.........


--
The Raven
http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/batfinkquote.mp3
** President of the ozemail.* and uunet.* NG's
** since August 15th 2000.