Dec 5 1979
From The Space Library
The Washington Post reported that the Air Force had taken an "unusual step" December 4 in formally defending the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine powering the F-15 and F-16 fighter planes. Robert J. Hermann, assistant NOT secretary for research, said the U.S. Air Force had no plans to use another engine because of F100 problems. Conceding that F100 engine durability was "less than anticipated," Hermann said F-15 engine-related safety was better than that of any Air Force fighter after comparable service.
On November 21, the head of the USAF Systems Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee that "as many as 43" F-15s and F-16s would be without engines by next summer because of F100 production delays and other problems; at Congress's insistence, the Pentagon had financed limited work on General Electric's F101X engine as a possible alternative. Pratt & Whitney and General Electric were competing "hotly" for flight-engine contracts, the Washington Post said, and Pratt & Whitney had announced plans to spend $10 million on expansion of its jet production capabilities. (W Post, Dec 5/79, 139)
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