Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES
ROHR, THE CALIFORNIA-based nacelle manufacturer, has launched the "Super 27" Boeing 727 re-engineing programme which lapsed with the failure of the Valsan 727RE "Quiet 727" effort.
The company, supported by Pratt & Whitney, will offer to re-engine predominantly late-production 727-200 Advanced models with JT8D-217C/219 powerplants, although "-low-time -100s or -200s will be suitable", says business-development manager Robert Korn. Rohr has acquired the rights to Valsan's supplemental type certificate and says that work will begin immediately, with the first delivery due in early 1997.
The modification removes the existing JT8D-9/15 or -17R engines from number one and three (outboard) positions and replaces them with -217Cs or -219s. The original, tail-mounted, number two engine is retained, equipped with a new acoustic exhaust mixer, and used at low power setting for take-off and landing. "In total, you get around 249kN [56,000lb] of take-off power, which gives you a thrust-to-weight ratio of 3.2:1, or nearly that of a 757," says Korn.
As well as reducing the 727's noise levels to comply with Stage 3, the re-engineing also provides a 6-7% reduction in fuel consumption (for the -200), providing at least a 560km (300nm) increase in range
Rohr says that final negotiations are under way with unnamed customers for the first batch of aircraft, which it says,"-is under ten". It sees a potential market for between 50 and 100 out of the 1,370 units estimated still to be in service. Mostly likely customers include express-parcels, small-airline, charter and executive users. The cost of the modification is "-between $12 million and $15 million", compared to current 727 hushkits, which range from $1.9 million to $2.5 million. "Customers, however, will be able to offset the cost by generating up to $2.7 million from the sale of their old engines," says Korn.
Each kit will consist of new nacelles, struts, engine mounts and thrust reversers, plus engines. Around 80% of the components will be made by Rohr at its sites in Arkansas, California, Maryland and Texas. Rohr supplied nacelle kits to Valsan for the 727RE programme.
"We did an autopsy into why Valsan failed and basically we came up with 'terrible timing'," says Korn. At the height of its programme, Valsan had orders and options for more than 200 aircraft, but finished with just 23 conversions.
Source: Flight International
