The TF-30, produced by Pratt & Whitney was the world's first afterburning turbofan. It was first proposed for the F6D Missileer missile carrier. The engine powered early F-14 Tomcat air superiority fighters, the F-111 medium bomber and without an afterburner in the A-7 Corsair light attack aircraft.

First flight of the TF-30 was in 1964 and production continued until 1986.

Supersonic jets before the introduction of the TF-30 all used afterburning turbojets. All of the air that goes into the engine is burned and exits through the afterburner. Turbojets usually consume more fuel than turbofans, where the first stage is a fan which simply moves air past the core of the engine. An afterburning turbofan combines the fuel economy of a turbofan with the high performance and thrust of a turbojet.

The F-111 would have problems with inlet compatibility, which many faulted the placement of the intakes behind the disturbed air of the wing. The F-111 would go through many different intake configurations.

The F-14 Tomcat with the TF30 was often called "underpowered", although combining the same engines of the F-111 with a much lighter airframe would still yield a higher thrust ratio than the F-4 Phantom. The TF30 was also called ill-adapted to the demands of air combat, and easily stalled. The F-14D would use more powerful engines in later versions to achieve a 1:1 thrust to weight ratio, though even with the TF30, it had a better T/W than the F-4 Phantom. The F-15 Eagle would wait until the development of the F100 turbofan which gave it a 1:1 T/W. The F-111 has a very high range / payload due to its swing wings, and the use of the TF30. The TF30 is not considered to be a high-bypass turbofan.

The F-14A entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1973, powered by Pratt & Whitney TF-30s. By the end of the decade, following numerous problems with the original engine the U.S. Department of Defense began procuring the upgraded TF-30-P-414A's. While these engines solved the serviceability problems, the fuel consumption and thrust was comparable to the initial model.

External link

• http://www.pratt-whitney.com/about_history_classic_tf30.asp

Low-bypass turbofan engines