Summary

  • The Pratt & Whitney F100 jet engine powers the Thunderbirds’ F-16 with unmatched throttle response.
  • The F100 jet engines have a track record of over 30,000,000 flight hours across 23 air forces globally.
  • The F100’s modularity reduces maintenance workload and supports futuristic applications like hypersonic flight.

Recently, Simple Flying had the honor of interviewing Pratt & Whitney’s Josh Goodman, senior director of the F100 Program at Pratt & Whitney, to discuss the Pratt & Whitney F100 – one of the engines used to power both the F-15 and F-16. In fact, the F100 is used to power the F-16s of the US Air Force Thunderbirds’ official air demonstration team.

Powering the Thunderbirds

The highest profile use of the Pratt & Whitney F100 is being the jet engine of choice for the F-16 Fighting Falcon (aka Viper). According to Josh Goodman, that is because the F100 is very responsive to throttle inputs.

Related

The US Air Force Thunderbirds: Everything You Need To Know

The USAF Thunderbird display team performs its shows with the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

After all, when the Thunderbirds are flying tight or attempting to make a solos merge on time, the ability to precisely control their F-16’s speed matters. Below, you can watch forever Thunderbird solo pilot Michelle “Mace” Curran hard at work holding formation, constantly adjusting the throttle:

Then there’s the famous Delta break-out shown below where the F-16s get very close and then break away…

LOOKING UP AT THE THUNDERBIRDS DELTA  - BURST - 16X9

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

As Goodman shared with Simple Flying,

“We have a superior thrust-to-weight ratio to optimize aircraft performance. Feedback from pilots (indicates) that it is truly an unmatched pilot throttle response and that’s why we power the Thunderbirds. That’s what gives the Thunderbirds the confidence to fly mere inches from their wingtip.”

Indeed, and with the Thunderbirds performing maneuvers like the Afterburner 360 and more, having the best jet engine possible is a must.

Additionally, Pratt & Whitney provides focused support to the Thunderbirds squadron. But ultimately to Goodman,

“I love being at air shows, and I love to feel the power of the engine. It’s like when you feel it in your gut. That is the feeling of freedom to me. Like I said, it’s just such an honor to gain the competence of the pilots for the mission that those Thunderbird pilots are performing.”

With that, the F100 jet engines are used in fighter jets for more than airshows. In fact, the F100 has quite the track record.

The F100 track record

Pratt & Whitney, since 1972, has been powering many F-15s and F-16s with the F100 jet engine family alongside General Electric. The over 7,300 F100 engines that are produced have 30,000,000+ flight hours amongst the 23 air forces that trust the F100. Additionally, over 3,300 F100 engines are still in service today. Pratt & Whitney claims that the flight time is nearly three times more hours than other fourth-generation engines, as per a July 23 statement announcing new F100 deliveries to Poland. With that, one can review the Pratt & Whitney infographic below:

2024_F100_banner - basic F100 stats for 2024

Graphic: Pratt & Whitney

One of those 23 air forces is the Polish Air Force. As Pratt & Whitney rearranges F100 work globally, F100 engines need to be shipped from Middletown, Connecticut, to Poland. Additionally, a Pratt & Whitney support facility in Rzeszów, Poland, produces F100 static structures and critical rotating parts to support new F100 engines and worldwide sustainment.

5868060 - B-52 works with Polish F-16s [Image 14 of 20]

Photo:  Airman 1st Class Duncan Bevan | 1st Combat Camera Squadron | US Air Force

Earlier this year, Pratt & Whitney won the third F100 engine performance-based logistics (PBL) sustainment contract worth $355 million from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). This sustainment contract supports the Republic of Korea Air Force’s F100s in its F-15K Slam Eagles and F-16 Vipers until deep into 2027.

2912159 - ROKAF enhances partnership during RED FLAG-Alaska [Image 16 of 16]

Photo: Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel | 354th Fighter Wing  | US Air Force

These are just examples of how the F100 family of jet engines are depended on by the world’s air forces. However, that’s only part of the F100 story of reliability. As Goodman shared with Simple Flying,

“One of one of the best things about Pratt and Whitney It is from a sustainment perspective, we are able to meet a customer where they are, we’re able to support a customer’s fleet in the way that they desire to be supported.”

Goodman went on to explain that Pratt & Whitney works with the client air force to meet their abilities to sustain the F100 engine with the air force’s financial capacity and when certain parts in the F100 will need to be replaced. One of the key attributes of the F100 is its modular design.

Modularity and requirements

To Goodman, the F100’s modularity is key to sustainment. As Goodman shared with Simple Flying,

“Yes, if there’s damage to the fan and the fan only, we have the ability to replace the fan only. And we don’t have to take that whole engine down and really replace the whole engine.”

Reducing the workload on maintainers means a faster return to serviceability. Additionally, if the F100 takes a bird strike or whatnot. In fact, one of the US Air Force’s requirements is for the F100 to handle a bird strike. Currently, resilience against a drone strike – like what almost happened with a F-35 in April – is not part of the US Air Force’s requirements.

A RTX spokesperson also shared with Simple Flying in response to a recent story about the F-15EX being used in electronic warfare – a potential future user of F100 engines – that the F100 is lighter than the competition helping offset the weight of jamming pods. Additionally, the F100 packs sufficient power and bleed air with ample margins to support any new F-15EX electronic warfare capabilities. All that is needed is the US Air Force to order F100s for the F-15EX.

Approved_320967-01_F-15EX_TkO-Grey_HiRes 032720-16x9

Graphic: Joel Guay/Shodanphotos | Boeing

But that’s not the limit of the F100’s capabilities. In fact, according to Goodman and an RTX spokesperson, the F100 has “operationally proven fifth-generation technologies, such as advanced thermal coatings, improved turbine cooling capabilities, and prognostics.” These capabilities can help take the F100 to hypersonic speeds.

Going Hypersonic With Hermeus’ Drones and Halcyon

Hermeus, a US startup, intends to build an autonomous aircraft called Quarterhorse to test technologies to take aviation hypersonic. Already Hermeus has US government grants to build hypersonic prototypes.

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Hermeus: The Startup Promising 3000mph Hypersonic Flight

The F100 will be somewhat modified but will help solve the problems of getting Quarterhorse to sufficient speed to trigger the ramjet to take over. Yes, the turbofan-ramjet combined cycle engine called Chimera uses the same reliable F100 jet engine. As one can see below, in November 2022, Chimera proved via a ground test that it could use the F100 to transition to ramjet.

According to A.J. Piplica, Hermeus’ co-founder and CEO in a July 11 RTX statement, the F100’s maintenance network is a plus. So too is the small size of the F100 coupled to the legendary thrust. As Piplica explained,

“So, there’s a sweet spot in the design and the size, weight and thrust class of this engine that fits very well. It’s in the sweet spot where success is a possibility.”

Once Quarterhorse serves as proof of concept, Hermeus intends to build a hypersonic military and intelligence drone called Darkhorse. Darkhorse will also use an F100 derivative in the Chimera II and be a logical replacement for human-crewed reconnaissance aircraft. But that’s not all, folks…

Finally, Hermeus wants to build a Mach 5 20-passenger commercial aircraft in Halcyon once the hypersonic technology is proven safe. This is clearly a few times faster than the speed of sound—which is what Mach 1 is—than Boom Supersonic’s efforts but will move fewer humans. The powerplant decision for Hermeus has not been made as of publication time.

Bottom line

The last word should go to a human dependent on the F100 to return home safely, especially as the F100 may have a commercial aviation future as much as a military one. As per a July 16 RTX testimonial, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Dale “Chaos” Hetke, a former F-16 pilot and now a lead integrator of Combat Air Forces at Pratt & Whitney, shared,

“The dependability of my engine was just incredible. Of the 1,000 hours I had in the aircraft, never once did my engine ever hiccup. That’s a testament to the men and the women who make that engine and the quality and the workmanship that they put into it.”

F100 Viper of OT Heading Out Into the Desert - 16x9

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Additionally, perhaps as a rebuttal to those who move next to an air force or naval aviation installation and complain about some of the sounds of freedom, Hetke also offered as to the value of afterburner,

“I put the aircraft into afterburner and immediately had the thrust and maneuverability to get away from the enemy. That’s something I’ll always remember and be grateful for – I had that extra power when I needed it most.”

Ultimately, the F100 is one dependable, modular jet engine ready for what’s next in jet propulsion. The F100’s record of zero losses in air combat, interoperability and reliability stands alone.

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    Pratt & Whitney

    Date Founded:
    1925-01-01

    CEO:
    Christopher Calio

    Headquarters Location:
    East Hartford, United States

    Business Type:
    Engine Maker

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