A final decision over whether to re-engine the US Air Force Boeing B-52H fleet could come within weeks, when the USAF reports to a Congressional committee on a proposal which it has received from Boeing and Rolls-Royce/Allison Engine.
The committee hearing, scheduled for 15 March, will give the USAF a platform to outline the merits of the unsolicited offer from Boeing and R-R to re-engine 94 Boeing B-52H bombers.
For the project to be approved, however, the USAF will have to identify funding for the aircraft-modernisation effort and seek legislation allowing for a long-term engine-lease arrangement in lieu of outright purchase of the RB.211s.
Under the concept, delivered to the USAF in June 1996, four RB.211.535E4Bs of 178-192kN (40-43,000lb) thrust would replace the eight twin-podded 75kN Pratt & Whitney TF-33s on the aircraft.
The RB.211s would be assembled in the USA by R-R subsidiary Allison Engine. The RB.211 was selected by Boeing in preference to the P&W PW2040. General Electric did not compete.
Boeing says that a year-long feasibility study concludes that the USAF could save as much as $6 billion in operation and support costs over 25 years. Although USAF officials say that the proposal is "technically low-risk" and offers "dramatic operational improvements", there is disagreement on specifics of Boeing's life-cycle-cost analysis, says a Boeing official.
"There is some disparity on how both sides did their calculations. One area of disagreement is estimated fuel-cost savings over the quarter century," he adds.
Without a USAF go-ahead, the project missed the fiscal year 1998 budget cycle, but it could receive initial funds in a FY1997/8 supplemental request, or the FY1999 budget request. All Boeing needs is $1 million to begin windtunnel testing, says the company official.
Meanwhile, Boeing has assisted the USAF in drafting new proposed legislation which would make the project a reality.
Source: Flight International