Rolls-Royce McVay on Program to Re-Engine USAF's B-52 Bomber Fleet

Craig McVay, the senior vice president for military strategic systems at Rolls-Royce North America, discusses the company's proposal to re-engine the US Air Force's fleet of Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the Air Force Association's 2019 Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando. Our coverage was sponsored by Leonardo DRS and L3 Technologies.

[Zoydian]

Nothing more satisfying than having an aviation buff lead an interview about the buff!

[JRSoubasse]

It’s rather interesting that this gentleman from Rolls-Royce seems more passionate and is imparting more knowledge than the interviews a year later with P&W and GE (which I do love also) on this same program.

[mollie]

Nice to see RR are in the mix to keep the buffs going strong
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[beornthebear.]

To me, the name Rolls Royce is synonymous with quality and not breaking down.

[j.mangum]

At least Mr. McVay answered the nuclear hardening question unlike that nothingspeak from Pratt&Whitney in another video.

[lameduck]

Rolls Royce won the contract. Engines to be built in Indianapolis.

[Bond-fxsi]

Very good interview and Mr. McVay did a great job answering those questions, he seemed to be more technical with the project compared to the other OEM interviews.The F130/BR700 engine is certainly a proven product with great performance. And good selling point that it has similar dimensions to TF33 than the other contenders. Also, RR have invested a lot with the infrastructure in USA. Should be first contender but could be at a disadvantage with company’s origin compared to contenders’. Will be a very close decision

[wfdix]

When can we talk about refitting the A-10.

[jonboymkbridgemaryfront]

RR got the b52 engine upgrade best of British/USA partnership

[davef.]

He's well versed in the topic at hand, good presentation.

[googlename]

The B-52 burns, on average, 88 million gallons of jet fuel per year representing 5% of the total jet fuel in the USAF.

Even if the USAF could reduce fuel consumption in its entire fleet of aircraft, all of them, by 25% and save more than 500 million gallons of fuel per year it would save $1B per year.

Sounds like solid savings, however that represents less than 1% of the USAF budget.

[donjones]

Always wonder when this comes up - how many original parts are left in any of these old TF-33 engines? All been replaced over the years? Or are those the original turbine blades, etc?

Late to the party; the old attempt at this would have replaced the 8, with 4 COTS engines. Thus larger fans and higher efficiency, right? Why the switch to 8?

[grinningpinhead]

I'm not an aerospace engineer this is going to be a very big job.

[coeu]

Because is a large number of engines I will take engine from all 3 Great Company

[nonsensefactory]

RR's solution would be built and sourced in the US at a brand new facility..major job creation in the US!

[michaeldargan]

I hope that the Reliable of these engines a better than RR Trent which a lot of the domestic airlines are using on they Aircraft now a days.

[jimmiemarkum]

I saw where some company from Indiana were bidding on building the engines. Rolls-Royce is probable more reliable. I believe the country would save a lot of money with the new engines. They say the engines will save 37% on fuel and have more power.

[chipps]

Does the President know you guys are tryin' to outsource?Put a Pratt on it.

[chipps]

Does the President know you guys are tryin' to outsource this?Put a Pratt on it, it's an American icon ffs.

[granskare]

I recall the Quantas plane that had an uncontained jet engine problem, by RR at the time.