The F-16C fleet of aircraft flown by the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," are powered by Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-220 advanced technology, afterburning turbofan engines.
The 24,000-pound thrust F100-PW-220 incorporates the most advanced technology available, including the precision control and advanced maintenance features of digital electronic controls and the extended durability and reliability of metallurgical and heat-transfer advances. The ruggedness of the F 100-PW-220 is demonstrated by the fact that it provides nearly eight years of continuous operational service between depot-level hot section inspections. The F100-PW-220 has established the best safety and mission capable rates in U.S. Air Force history. By the end of 1993,more than 1,000 PW100-PW-220 engines were delivered to F-15 and F-16 operators in ten countries.
The Thunderbirds F-16's have been powered exclusively by models of the F100 since the squadron converted to the high-performance fighter in the early 1980s. Various models of the F 100 series were selected by the U.S. Air Force and the air forces of 17 allied nations to power versions ofthe F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. F100 engines power all operational F-15 Eagle aircraft and more than 60 percent of F-16 fighters worldwide. More than 6,000 F100 engines were produced since initial operational introduction in 1974. The original F 100 engine established the benchmark for modern fighter aircraft engine performance with a thrust-to-weight ratio of nearly eight-to-one. Since then, F 100's have accumulated more than 10 million flight hours under some of the most rigorous and demanding operational environments found around the world. Despite this demanding service, the F100 record of reliability performance and safety has set a world wide standard for excellence.
| STATISTICS | |
|---|---|
| Intermediate Thrust | 14,670 pounds |
| Weight | 3,200 pounds |
| Length | 191.2 inches |
| Inlet Diameter | 34.8 inches |
| Maximum Diameter | 46.5 inches |
| Fan Bypass Ratio | 0.6-to-1 |
| Overall Pressure Ratio | 25-to-1 |