Originally Posted by
Capn Bloggs
Afterburner on steroids...
It wasn't even in afterburner when the engine ran away. Just goes to show how much higher temperature translates to more power. We had an engine, although a PW one, go 50 degrees past max FTIT for a few seconds, and the pilot described it as getting a kick in the back. The one in this incident went something like 200 degrees plus past its maximum, resulting in plenty of thrust for a short time, and then a melted turbine section as the pictures in the accident report clearly show.
The F-16 is equipped with a max power switch that is in place for war/emergency use only. Engaging it will allow the FTIT to increase by 20 degrees for a short duration of time giving more thrust for a bugout or what have you. It also reduces the engine overhaul time from 600 hours to just 6 hours...
The use of new and more heat resistible materials in engines translates into more power or more hours between engine overhauls. The PW -232 could achieve in excess of 32.000 lbs of thrust compared to the PW -220's 25.000 lbs without any major aircraft modifications (F-16), and it could reach 37.000 lbs with a redesigned intake. That would almost get you a 1 to 1 thrust/weight in a fully combat loaded jet. Just imagine....