The Air Force and the Great Engine WarExamines the 1984 "war" that pitted Pratt and Whitney against GE in head-to-head competition for multi billion dollar defense contracts to provide high performance engines for front line fighter aircraft. The circumstances surrounding the lengthy battle led to the Air Force decision to split future engine sales between the two. Attempts to cut through emotional opinions of the "combatants," to report reality, and to identify lessons learned. Helps the reader to understand the government-to-contractor personality issues; to understand management styles, business expectations and communication skills of key participants. |
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1st sess 96th Cong acquisition afterburner Air Force Air Force Base Air Force Systems Air Force's aircraft engine airframe April Armed Services Committee award Bellis Benjamin N blades Boeing borescope budget Carlson Committee on Armed completed Congress congressional continued contract contractor cost decision Department of Defense durability Electric engine business engine development engine problems Evendale F100 design F100 development F100 engine F101 derivative February fighter aircraft fiscal Force and Navy Force Systems Command GE's gine Government Harry Gray Hearings House Appropriations Committee House Armed Services Ibid initial Interview jet engine Mach ment military million needed operational Packard percent performance pilot Pratt and Whitney procurement production proposal propulsion requirements schedule Secretary of Defense Skantze Slay source selection Soviet spare staff stall stagnations Tactical Air Tactical Air Command technical thrust tion turbine failures velopment warranty
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Page 16 - We have a compelling need to initiate a program to develop a modern fighter aircraft like the FX with superior air-to-air performance and substantial air-to-ground capability
Page 44 - Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the
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Page 61 - to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California
Page 162 - 5. US, Congress, House, Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1973, Hearings, 92d Cong., 2d sess.,
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Page 164 - US, Congress, House, Committee on Appropriations, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1980, Hearings, 96th Cong.,