Harrier III-AV8B with a modern engine

Abstract

The paper examines the application of a 26, 156-lb thrust engine (which is 30 percent more thrust than the short-lift dry rating on the F402-RR-406 Pegasus engine) to an AV-8B aircraft. This modern engine has 30 percent more thrust than the F402-RR-406 Pegasus engine with no increase in engine weight; the weight is assumed to be constant for both engines. The paper focuses on the benefit to the AV-8B in increasing short takeoff gross weight and vertical landing weight. A second comparison is made between the bigger engine with the existing thrust-versus-SFC curve, and a 10 percent lower SFC curve. The notion of a modern engine with 10 percent lower SFC and 30 percent more thrust for the same size and weight is presented as a hypothesis, and is not supported by discussing engine technology. There are no engine data or technical discussion as to how the modern engine is constructed or which manufacturer could build it. The performance estimates are generated by ACSYNT, a NASA developed computer code that is available to U.S. industry and has been reported on in a number of other publications.