Comments on: Not Going Anywhere

By: Mongo

Mongo — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:57:27 +0000

B2 – Had a cerebral disconnect there. Wuz thinkin’ TF-30…a mech’s curse so much of the time.

By: badbob

badbob — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:18:05 +0000

The TF34 spool time is actually a lot less- 4-6 seconds depending on environment (temp/etc.) You should have payed attention on FCF’s.

BTW, imo 5 seconds is a long time too..but then again any pilot back at idle and flying into wires deserves what could happen!

Mongo,

re- P&W. No, it is a GE product (Lynn, MA?). On the S-3 it has T-O-W reliability twice that of the Hornet series, is also flown on the A-10 and the commercial Regional jet. It’ll be out there the rest of our lives.

One of the most reliable, efficient and successful turbofan engines ever devised.

I think you have the TF34 confused with the J52 or 404…LOL.

By: Yak

Yak — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:57:33 +0000

Mongo,

I always thought they were rather trusty myself – I think we only had to shut one of ‘em down once in two tours.

Reliable. Fuel efficient. Only real negatives were spool-up time and that rather distinctive sound around 64%…

By: Mongo

Mongo — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:37:24 +0000

Oh, come on, Yak, nonebody much trusted P&W’s rusty TF-34, but, at the very least, it would blow smoke (somebody’s definition of BS) and go off the pointy end most days of the week.

Forgot what else I wuz gonna say…

Oh, that was it…dribbling off the pointy end. Didn’t they call that ” givin’ away the jet?” Splash…pee in the bottle…why’d ya do it? what were ya thinkin’?

By: Yak

Yak — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:58:40 +0000

Yeah – power to mil is a good thing on touchdown if the trusty TF-34 revolving fan thingies which made JP-5 for you while you were out double-cycling at taxpayers’ expense take 14 seconds to go from idle to military power.

It ain’t just embarassing when you dribble off the angle on a bolter when the Wires Brothers were looking the other way. Instead of doing their job of reaching up and grabbing Mister Hook as he meandered by, trawling for attention…

By: Nose

Nose — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:25:23 +0000

Chris –

Military (full, non-afterburner) power is required from touchdown until you come to a stop. Pulling power back early is called “taking a cut in the wires.” Pulling power to idle before touchdown is called “Ease Gun to land.” Both are bad and will cause much consternation on the LSO platform, Pri-Fly, and the Bridge.

The offending pilot will prolly get a “Cut” grade on his pass (0 points out of 4) and a serious talking to by CAG Paddles, if not the Boss, Captain, or CAG.

Someone remind me to tell the story about the Marine who crossed the ramp at idle, and then cracked open his speed brake to fix his overpowered condition.

Ouch.