Planning Purposes Only
No contract solicitation exists at this time, NASA said in a
Request for Information (RFI) document released on Tuesday. The RFI is for
informational and planning purposes only and is not a request for proposal, nor
does it constitute a commitment to procure any goods or services.
“Vendors having the capabilities necessary to meet or exceed
the stated requirements are invited to submit appropriate documentation,
literature, brochures, and references,” the agency said in the RFI.
NASA is seeking information from industry regarding
potential replacement engine options for the WB-57 aircraft, which
currently operates with Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines.
WB-57 Mission
The WB-57 aircraft is a high-altitude, long-endurance platform used for atmospheric research, sensor testing, and communication relay. NASA aims to modernize the fleet and ensure long-term sustainability by exploring potential engine upgrades.
Performance Improvements
NASA seeks quantifiable performance improvements, including
but not limited to:
o Increased thrust
o Improved fuel efficiency
o Reduced maintenance costs
o Extended operational range
o Enhanced operational ceiling
o Other relevant performance metrics
Interested firms having the required capabilities necessary to meet the above requirements should submit a capability statement to NASA ARC no later than May 22.
5 comments:
Can any of the data and testing from the B-52 re-engining effort, also with Pratt & Whitney TF33 engines.
WB-57s are amazing aircraft, used to do testing of the Battlefield Airborne Communication Node (BACN) / Objective Gateway that now flies on the USAF E-11 aircraft.
How many airframes/engines are in consideraation?
NASA has 3,active aircraft
Can not believe B-57's are still flying. I saw them in early '60's while in Air force. I think they had shot gun start engines at that time.
I hope the new engines have that same sound! I always love when the WB-57s fly over from Ellington Field here at the Johnson Space Center. We call them Batplanes
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