Originally Posted by
DHfan
I've always understood that the Spey was chosen solely to give UK manufacturing input and it did adversely affect performance - "lots of money for a worse aeroplane."
However I've recently read that without the Spey - or more accurately, with the original engines - we couldn't have used it on our carriers.
This goes against the accepted story but if it's true why isn't it better known?
Bear in mind - "I know nothing" - it's only something I read somewhere fairly recently.
I've heard that as well, and also that McDonnell Douglas hoped at one time to sell Spey Phantoms to the US navy for operation from Essex class carriers.