Honeywell F124
Encyclopedia
The Honeywell
/ITEC
F124 is a low-bypass turbofan
engine derived from the civilian Honeywell TFE731
. The F125 is an afterburning version of the engine. The engine began development in the late 1970s for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force
AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence Fighter
(IDF), and it first ran in 1979. The F124/F125 engine has since been proposed for use on other aircraft, such as the T-45 Goshawk
and the SEPECAT Jaguar
, and currently powers the Aero L-159 Alca
and the Alenia Aermacchi M-346.
The F124 has a rather unusual design for a two spool gas turbine engine, using both axial
and centrifugal
compressors in its high pressure compressor.
There are currently only three production variants of the engine, although several more have been proposed throughout its lifespan.
in order to provide an engine for the AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence Fighter
(IDF) being developed for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force
(ROCAF). The TFE731 Model 1042 was touted as a low bypass ratio
"military derivative of the proven commercial TFE731 engine" and "provides efficient, reliable, cost effective propulsion for the next generation of light strike and advanced trainer aircraft", with thrust of 4260 lbf (18.9 kN) dry and 6790 lbf (30.2 kN) with afterburner. After initial negotiation, the investment was going to be divided between Garrett, Volvo, AIDC
, and Italian company Piaggio
. The development would consist of the non-afterburning TFE1042-6 for light attack aircraft/advanced trainer, and TFE1042-7 for the AMX
or F-5
upgrade. Garrett would be responsible for the core engine, and Volvo would be responsible for the fan section and the afterburner. The engine first ran for 3 hours at a Volvo test facility in 1979.
AIDC
also suggested upgrading TFE1042-7 to 8000 lbf (31 to 36 kN) thrust as twin engine solution, in order to compete with General Electric F404 for applications such as the JAS 39 Gripen
. However, the Gripen project decided to continue with a single engine F404 variant, built by Volvo, and Volvo left the project to at that point to focus on the Gripen work. Piaggio asked to participate at a later date due to financial reasons and left the program as well. Thus only Garrett and AIDC invested in the new International Turbine Engine Corporation(ITEC), with the contract signed in 1982.
In 1988, ITEC decided to invest in the 12,000 lb TFE1088-12, which was re-designated as TFE1042-70A (for political reason as well). Preliminary study had shown that IDF could supercruise
with the new engine. At the same time, GE decided to enter the market with J101/SF, a smaller version of F404. However after the IDF order was cut in half due to budget concerns, the TFE1088-12 engine upgrade plan ended as well. The F-CK IDF first flew in 1989, and aircraft were delivered through 1999.
T-45 Goshawk / BAe Hawk
In the early 1990s, the United States Navy
considered the re-engining their fleet of T-45 Goshawk
trainer aircraft with the F124. In 1994, after flight testing a T-45 with the engine, the USN elected not to do that.
The possibility of a F124-powered T-45 arose again in 1996 when McDonnell Douglas
offered an F124-engined T-45 to the Royal Australian Air Force
as a competitor for their trainer requirement. BAe
wanted to offer the F124 as an option on their entry for the RAAF trainer requirement, the BAE Hawk
(which the T-45 is based on), but ITEC refused to give BAe permission to offer it. ITEC's decision turned out to be a mistake, as the RAAF select the Hawk as their trainer.However, after the selection of the aircraft, the RAAF decided to have a separate competition between the F124 and the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
(which was BAe's selection) to power the new trainers. In 1997 the RAAF elected to used the Adour engine, effectively ending the F124's chances of being used on Hawk or T-45 aircraft.
L-159
In 1994, the F124 engine was selected to power the Czech Aero L-159 Alca
light combat aircraft. The combination first flew in 1997.
M-346
In 2000, Alenia Aermacchi announced that their new M-346 trainer/light attack aircraft would be powered by the F124 engine, choosing it over its common rival, the Adour. In 2009, the United Arab Emirates
announced that their M-346 trainers would be powered by the F124-GA-200.
X-45A
The F124 engine powered the Boeing X-45A
unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator in the early 2000s.
Possible Future Uses
The afterburning F125 engine is being considered, as of 2009, by the Indian Air Force
as a replacement for the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
engines in their SEPECAT Jaguar
aircraft. The new engine would be both lighter and more powerful. It was successfully demonstrated in 2007.
The high pressure compressor (HPC) of the F124 is a fairly unique design among gas turbine engines; it employs both axial
and a centrifugal
compressors in a single design. There are four axial stages that lead to a fifth centrifugal stage. All the blades and the impeller are made from titanium.
The compressed air is combusted in a annular combustor and then exhausted to a single stage high pressure turbine (HPT) followed by a single stage low pressure turbine. The HPT is air-cooled. The exhaust is mixed, meaning the bypass air from the fan and the exhaust from the core exit through a common nozzle. In the F125 variant of the engine, the exhaust passes through the afterburner section. The F124 does not have an afterburner.
F124-GA-200
F124-GA-400
F125-GA-100
F125X
F125XX
F125
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
/ITEC
International Turbine Engine Corporation
The International Turbine Engine Corporation is a joint venture between Honeywell Aerospace , and the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation . The company produces the F124/F125 turbofan engine series, which is used in the Aermacchi M-346, Aero L-159 Alca, and AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo.-External...
F124 is a low-bypass turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
engine derived from the civilian Honeywell TFE731
Honeywell TFE731
|-See also:-External links:*...
. The F125 is an afterburning version of the engine. The engine began development in the late 1970s for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force
Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force is the aviation branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan...
AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence Fighter
AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence Fighter
The AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo , commonly known as the Indigenous Defence Fighter ', is an air superiority jet fighter with multirole capability named after Chiang Ching-kuo, the late President of the Republic of China...
(IDF), and it first ran in 1979. The F124/F125 engine has since been proposed for use on other aircraft, such as the T-45 Goshawk
T-45 Goshawk
|-Avionics:Data from naval-technology.com *Smiths Industries, Ltd. AN/USN-2 Standard Attitude Heading and Reference System . Later replaced by the BAE/Marconi AN/ASN-180 Navigation Guidance System ....
and the SEPECAT Jaguar
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
, and currently powers the Aero L-159 Alca
Aero L-159 Alca
|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.-External links:* * * * *...
and the Alenia Aermacchi M-346.
The F124 has a rather unusual design for a two spool gas turbine engine, using both axial
Axial compressor
Axial compressors are rotating, airfoil-based compressors in which the working fluid principally flows parallel to the axis of rotation. This is in contrast with other rotating compressors such as centrifugal, axi-centrifugal and mixed-flow compressors where the air may enter axially but will have...
and centrifugal
Centrifugal compressor
Centrifugal compressors, sometimes termed radial compressors, are a sub-class of dynamic axisymmetric work-absorbing turbomachinery.The idealized compressive dynamic turbo-machine achieves a pressure rise by adding kinetic energy/velocity to a continuous flow of fluid through the rotor or impeller...
compressors in its high pressure compressor.
There are currently only three production variants of the engine, although several more have been proposed throughout its lifespan.
Development
In 1978, Garrett announced joint research on the TFE1042 afterburner with Swedish company Volvo Flygmotor ABVolvo Aero
Volvo Aero, a subsidiary of Swedish company Volvo, develops and manufactures components for aircraft and rocket engines with high technology content in co-operation with the world’s leading engine manufacturers.-History:...
in order to provide an engine for the AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence Fighter
AIDC F-CK Indigenous Defence Fighter
The AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo , commonly known as the Indigenous Defence Fighter ', is an air superiority jet fighter with multirole capability named after Chiang Ching-kuo, the late President of the Republic of China...
(IDF) being developed for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force
Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force is the aviation branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan...
(ROCAF). The TFE731 Model 1042 was touted as a low bypass ratio
Bypass ratio
The term bypass ratio relates to the design of turbofan engines, commonly used in aviation. It is defined as the ratio between the mass flow rate of air drawn in by the fan bypassing the engine core to the mass flow rate passing through the engine core....
"military derivative of the proven commercial TFE731 engine" and "provides efficient, reliable, cost effective propulsion for the next generation of light strike and advanced trainer aircraft", with thrust of 4260 lbf (18.9 kN) dry and 6790 lbf (30.2 kN) with afterburner. After initial negotiation, the investment was going to be divided between Garrett, Volvo, AIDC
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation is a state-owned aerospace company based in Taichung, Republic of China . It is known for developing the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter.-History:...
, and Italian company Piaggio
Piaggio
Piaggio based in Pontedera, Italy encompasses seven brands of scooters, motorcycles and compact commercial vehicles. As the fourth largest producer of scooters and motorcycles in the world, Piaggio produces more than 600,000 vehicles annually, with five research and development centers, more than...
. The development would consist of the non-afterburning TFE1042-6 for light attack aircraft/advanced trainer, and TFE1042-7 for the AMX
AMX International AMX
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Braybrook, Roy. "Assessing the AMX". Air International, June 1989, Vol 36 No 6. Bromley, UK:Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 267–278....
or F-5
F-5 Freedom Fighter
The Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and the F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely-used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop...
upgrade. Garrett would be responsible for the core engine, and Volvo would be responsible for the fan section and the afterburner. The engine first ran for 3 hours at a Volvo test facility in 1979.
AIDC
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation
Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation is a state-owned aerospace company based in Taichung, Republic of China . It is known for developing the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter.-History:...
also suggested upgrading TFE1042-7 to 8000 lbf (31 to 36 kN) thrust as twin engine solution, in order to compete with General Electric F404 for applications such as the JAS 39 Gripen
JAS 39 Gripen
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single-engine multirole fighter manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was designed to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force...
. However, the Gripen project decided to continue with a single engine F404 variant, built by Volvo, and Volvo left the project to at that point to focus on the Gripen work. Piaggio asked to participate at a later date due to financial reasons and left the program as well. Thus only Garrett and AIDC invested in the new International Turbine Engine Corporation(ITEC), with the contract signed in 1982.
In 1988, ITEC decided to invest in the 12,000 lb TFE1088-12, which was re-designated as TFE1042-70A (for political reason as well). Preliminary study had shown that IDF could supercruise
Supercruise
Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight of an aircraft with a useful cargo, passenger, or weapons load performed efficiently and without the use of afterburners ....
with the new engine. At the same time, GE decided to enter the market with J101/SF, a smaller version of F404. However after the IDF order was cut in half due to budget concerns, the TFE1088-12 engine upgrade plan ended as well. The F-CK IDF first flew in 1989, and aircraft were delivered through 1999.
T-45 Goshawk / BAe Hawk
In the early 1990s, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
considered the re-engining their fleet of T-45 Goshawk
T-45 Goshawk
|-Avionics:Data from naval-technology.com *Smiths Industries, Ltd. AN/USN-2 Standard Attitude Heading and Reference System . Later replaced by the BAE/Marconi AN/ASN-180 Navigation Guidance System ....
trainer aircraft with the F124. In 1994, after flight testing a T-45 with the engine, the USN elected not to do that.
The possibility of a F124-powered T-45 arose again in 1996 when McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
offered an F124-engined T-45 to the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
as a competitor for their trainer requirement. BAe
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
wanted to offer the F124 as an option on their entry for the RAAF trainer requirement, the BAE Hawk
BAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
(which the T-45 is based on), but ITEC refused to give BAe permission to offer it. ITEC's decision turned out to be a mistake, as the RAAF select the Hawk as their trainer.However, after the selection of the aircraft, the RAAF decided to have a separate competition between the F124 and the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
|-See also:- External links :* * *...
(which was BAe's selection) to power the new trainers. In 1997 the RAAF elected to used the Adour engine, effectively ending the F124's chances of being used on Hawk or T-45 aircraft.
L-159
In 1994, the F124 engine was selected to power the Czech Aero L-159 Alca
Aero L-159 Alca
|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.-External links:* * * * *...
light combat aircraft. The combination first flew in 1997.
M-346
In 2000, Alenia Aermacchi announced that their new M-346 trainer/light attack aircraft would be powered by the F124 engine, choosing it over its common rival, the Adour. In 2009, the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
announced that their M-346 trainers would be powered by the F124-GA-200.
X-45A
The F124 engine powered the Boeing X-45A
Boeing X-45
The Boeing X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous military aircraft, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works. Manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the X-45 was a part of DARPA's J-UCAS project.-Development:Boeing developed...
unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator in the early 2000s.
Possible Future Uses
The afterburning F125 engine is being considered, as of 2009, by the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
as a replacement for the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour
|-See also:- External links :* * *...
engines in their SEPECAT Jaguar
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
aircraft. The new engine would be both lighter and more powerful. It was successfully demonstrated in 2007.
Design
The F124 engine is fundamentally a low bypass, two spool engine (meaning that there are two rotational shafts, a high pressure shaft and a low pressure shaft. The fan/low pressure compressor section is made of three stages with titanium blades. The first stage has 30 un-shrouded blades, and the overall pressure ratio for the three stage fan section is 2.5:1. Some of the air is bypassed (Bypass ratio of 0.472:1), and the rest is fed to the high pressure compressor section.The high pressure compressor (HPC) of the F124 is a fairly unique design among gas turbine engines; it employs both axial
Axial compressor
Axial compressors are rotating, airfoil-based compressors in which the working fluid principally flows parallel to the axis of rotation. This is in contrast with other rotating compressors such as centrifugal, axi-centrifugal and mixed-flow compressors where the air may enter axially but will have...
and a centrifugal
Centrifugal compressor
Centrifugal compressors, sometimes termed radial compressors, are a sub-class of dynamic axisymmetric work-absorbing turbomachinery.The idealized compressive dynamic turbo-machine achieves a pressure rise by adding kinetic energy/velocity to a continuous flow of fluid through the rotor or impeller...
compressors in a single design. There are four axial stages that lead to a fifth centrifugal stage. All the blades and the impeller are made from titanium.
The compressed air is combusted in a annular combustor and then exhausted to a single stage high pressure turbine (HPT) followed by a single stage low pressure turbine. The HPT is air-cooled. The exhaust is mixed, meaning the bypass air from the fan and the exhaust from the core exit through a common nozzle. In the F125 variant of the engine, the exhaust passes through the afterburner section. The F124 does not have an afterburner.
Variants
F124-GA-100- This is the original variant of the engine. It powered the Boeing X-45Boeing X-45The Boeing X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous military aircraft, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works. Manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the X-45 was a part of DARPA's J-UCAS project.-Development:Boeing developed...
demonstrator.
F124-GA-200
- Slightly de-rated variant of the F124-GA-100; the maximum thrust is 6250 lbf (27.80 kN) and the engine weighs 28 lb (13 kg) less. This variant utilizes an all new accessory gearbox, as well as other small upgrades. This variant is used in the Aermacchi M-346Aermacchi M-346The Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master is a military transonic trainer aircraft. It is based on work done by Yakovlev and Aermacchi while working on the Yak-130 as a joint venture.-Development:...
.
F124-GA-400
- Variation of the F124-GA-100, modified for the T-45 GoshawkT-45 Goshawk|-Avionics:Data from naval-technology.com *Smiths Industries, Ltd. AN/USN-2 Standard Attitude Heading and Reference System . Later replaced by the BAE/Marconi AN/ASN-180 Navigation Guidance System ....
and the BAE HawkBAE HawkThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
. The engine was flight tested in the T-45, but the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
decided not to re-engine the aircraft with this engine.
F125-GA-100
- Also known as the TFE1042-70. This is the basic afterburning variant of the engine. Used in the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo.
F125X
- Proposed advanced variant of the F125 engine, with a maximum thrust of 12,500 lbf (56 kN).
F125XX
- Further advanced variant of the F125 engine, this one producing 16,400 lbf (73 kN) of thrust. If it were built, there would have been a related F124XX non-afterburning variant, producing only 10,800 lbf (48 kN) of thrust.
Applications
F124- Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master
- Aero L-159 AlcaAero L-159 Alca|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.-External links:* * * * *...
- Boeing X-45Boeing X-45The Boeing X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous military aircraft, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works. Manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the X-45 was a part of DARPA's J-UCAS project.-Development:Boeing developed...
F125
- AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo