Page 1 of 2
Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:39 am
by Ed H
Looks like the US Air force has chosen the RR F130 engine to upgrade its B52s
https://www.airforcemag.com/rolls-royce ... 6-billion/
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 7:26 am
by Ghost from above
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:17 am
by Seahornet1
Slightly odd comment here...
Boeing will decide whether and how to mount the engines in twin-engine pods or nacelles, as the TF33s are now arranged...
(My highlight.)
Any thoughts on what possible alternative layout there might be...?
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:17 am
by Finty
Nice!
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 11:33 am
by page_verify
An engine designed in Germany for a British company, that'll be made in America. The days of America seemingly only buying American must be fading.
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:15 pm
by Snoop 95
page_verify wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 11:33 am
An engine designed in Germany for a British company, that'll be made in America. The days of America seemingly only buying American must be fading.
A multi-national company now for sure. Is the American subsidiary of RR the former Allison company, whose turbo-props were widely fitted?
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:54 pm
by Snoop 95
Snoop 95 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:15 pm
page_verify wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 11:33 am
An engine designed in Germany for a British company, that'll be made in America. The days of America seemingly only buying American must be fading.
A multi-national company now for sure. Is the American subsidiary of RR the former Allison company, whose turbo-props were widely fitted?
Yes it is. Found the answer in the usual place - Wiki.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_North_America
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 2:44 pm
by page_verify
That's not what I said
This engine was designed by BMW Rolls-Royce AeroEngines GmbH, which was as a UK-based European firm. It may have been owned by the multi-national RR PLC, but it started life in a very small, independent UK-based design office with no connection with the larger, multi-national RR plc except for some start-up money.
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:26 pm
by mushbuster
This is big news. More details on the F-130 (AKA BR725 in civil applications) here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_BR700
From elsewhere in the US Air Force "The first two fully modified B-52s are expected to be available for testing by the end of 2025. The first operational B-52s with the new engines is projected to be delivered by the end of 2028 with the entire fleet modified by 2035. 608 engines to be supplied in total."
I for one will miss the gorgeous noise and smell of the B-52H with TF33s and there will be no more smoky departures from Fairford. I wonder how much the range will increase with the significantly improved engine efficiency. It will have big implications across the heavy bomber and tanker fleets
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:13 am
by roger4
The answer to your range / fuel efficiency question is in the link in the first post - up to 40%.
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:35 am
by plmc135
Can someone come up with a plan to re-engine adults over 70

Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:19 am
by Supra
plmc135 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:35 am
Can someone come up with a plan to re-engine adults over 70
Great idea! Especially with the reduced "noise and smell of the (
Edit..Older Generation & possibly) be no more smoky departures " as noted in the
mushbuster post three above this!

Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:59 pm
by Albert149
It won't be the same without the smoke but at least they will still be flying.
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:42 pm
by Doodah
B52 - the Rolls Royce of bombers
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:55 pm
by Stratocruiser
Doodah wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:42 pm
B52 - the Rolls Royce of bombers
Great comment, Love it

Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:11 pm
by page_verify
A Buff person on another forum says they're expecting a protest to be filed but not because the award's been made to a non-US company.
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:34 pm
by gamecock
I was under the impression RR North America was wholly American owned and in no way associated with RR UK plc.
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:07 pm
by quid21
Yes bound to be a protest, the US doesn't like buying anything with a European name with the exception of the original British Harrier, are there any other types or equipment the US has bought from Europe?
Whats the betting that a US company will win after the protest.....call me cynical! Even if RR is American, an American sounding company name would be better

Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:36 pm
by Nighthawke
T-45 Goshawk is another example.
Re: Rolls Royce wins contract to re-engine B52 fleet
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 10:07 pm
by Alf
quid21 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:07 pm
Yes bound to be a protest, the US doesn't like buying anything with a European name with the exception of the original British Harrier, are there any other types or equipment the US has bought from Europe?
Whats the betting that a US company will win after the protest.....call me cynical! Even if RR is American, an American sounding company name would be better
USAF/Army bought C-23 Sherpa, USCG bought Dauphin , US Army the H145 , US Navy new helicopter is the AW119, US Navy T-45 Goshawk.. US also bought U-28, C-146 .. and probably quite a few others