Old designs with modern engines

[McColm]

I know that the Lockheed Constellation was used for engine trials with the Allison T56 turboprop engine so it wouldn't look too out of place if the Lockheed P-3A Orion hadn't been chosen by the USNAVY to replace the Neptune. The weapons bays from the Boeing B-29 fits so a future project will be in the pipeline.

[Weaver]

F-104 & F-4 upgraded with P&W F101 to see them through the 80's and 90's.

There were at least two proposals (Boeing and IAI) to fit "ultimate F-4s" with PW1120 engines.

Ah, pipped my memory, there were quite a few Phantom upgrades proposed in the 80's and 90's IIRC, with various fits.

Greece and Turkey have upgraded Phantoms with almost all of those "Phantom 2000" mods except the PW1120s.

[Mossie]

F-104 & F-4 upgraded with P&W F101 to see them through the 80's and 90's.

There were at least two proposals (Boeing and IAI) to fit "ultimate F-4s" with PW1120 engines.

The F-104 dogfighter, proposed in 1985. This would go well with a P&W F100 or derivative.

Original wing:
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Longer wing and vertical tail:
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[Diamondback]

F-104 & F-4 upgraded with P&W F101 to see them through the 80's and 90's.

There were at least two proposals (Boeing and IAI) to fit "ultimate F-4s" with PW1120 engines.

Ah, pipped my memory, there were quite a few Phantom upgrades proposed in the 80's and 90's IIRC, with various fits.

Greece and Turkey have upgraded Phantoms with almost all of those "Phantom 2000" mods except the PW1120s.

The aborted "Kurnass 2000" project springs to mind.

[Charlie_c67]

How well would some of those first & 2nd gen fighters have done with modern engines?  A Vampire with a Spey?

I think anything with a full fat Gyron could make for an interesting proposition...

[kerick]

There was a proposal for a J79 powered F-101 Voodoo. I think one was built.

[Weaver]

There was a proposal for a J79 powered F-101 Voodoo. I think one was built.

Everyone wanted the J-79 so that doesn't surprise me: look at the Grumman Super-Tiger and the Douglas Skylancer.

[jcf]

There was a proposal for a J79 powered F-101 Voodoo. I think one was built.

Everyone wanted the J-79 so that doesn't surprise me: look at the Grumman Super-Tiger and the Douglas Skylancer.

Which is amusing as it was the cause of a lot of the F-104 crashes, especially the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger F-104G.

It had a crap safety record in general for a long time which led to losses in all of the types that used it.

[Weaver]

There was a proposal for a J79 powered F-101 Voodoo. I think one was built.

Everyone wanted the J-79 so that doesn't surprise me: look at the Grumman Super-Tiger and the Douglas Skylancer.

Which is amusing as it was the cause of a lot of the F-104 crashes, especially the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger F-104G.

It had a crap safety record in general for a long time which led to losses in all of the types that used it.

Wasn't it the first US engine to have variable stator vanes? I wonder if those were part of the problem. They certainly gave plenty of trouble on the Gyron Junior.

[Mossie]

B-52 re-engining could have a thread of its own. It's finally happened though, with the Rolls Royce BR725/F130 being selected for the B-52J.

I loose track of the number of studies for four, six, eight engines over the years. It looks like the B-52 will soldier on past its replacements into the 2040's. At which point it won't completely surprise me if they talk about further upgrades and it hitting a century...

[kerick]

B-52 re-engining could have a thread of its own. It's finally happened though, with the Rolls Royce BR725/F130 being selected for the B-52J.

I loose track of the number of studies for four, six, eight engines over the years. It looks like the B-52 will soldier on past its replacements into the 2040's. At which point it won't completely surprise me if they talk about further upgrades and it hitting a century...

I completely agree. This could be the third reengining of the B-52 if it had been done a couple of decades ago as many suggested.

[Mossie]

Another similar aged type that's proven incredibly useful is the WB-57, if in very small numbers. What might that get re-engined with if NASA wanted it to carry on indefinitely? At least there should be plenty of TF-33 spares now.

Martin Baker also have kept two Meteors running due to them being really well suited as an ejection seat testbed and nothing newer being quite right for the niche role. So what might replace the Derwents if they needed to keep them going?

[kerick]

The KC-135 series has been reengined at least once. It depends on if it's regular Air Force or National Guard as to what type of engine. I can see many of these continuing for quite some time in many different roles. Something from a same sized airliner that's more fuel efficient would be good.

[scooter]

Another similar aged type that's proven incredibly useful is the WB-57, if in very small numbers. What might that get re-engined with if NASA wanted it to carry on indefinitely? At least there should be plenty of TF-33 spares now.

Especially with next year's Defense Budget getting rid of the last A-10s.

Skyraiders with T-56s, F-106s with next gen P&W/GE engines.

[Weaver]

Another similar aged type that's proven incredibly useful is the WB-57, if in very small numbers. What might that get re-engined with if NASA wanted it to carry on indefinitely? At least there should be plenty of TF-33 spares now.

We've already seen pilots flying their father's planes: we might yet see somebody flying their grandfather's B-52. 

Martin Baker also have kept two Meteors running due to them being really well suited as an ejection seat testbed and nothing newer being quite right for the niche role. So what might replace the Derwents if they needed to keep them going?

A pair of Williams FJ-44-4s would work. They're short enough to fit between the fore and aft wing spars, produce exactly the same thrust as a Derwent 8, and are about 30% lighter.