January 4, 1982 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

$49-Million Gas Turbine Subcontract Awarded To AVCO Lycoming Stratford

AYCO Lycoming Stratford Division, Stratford, Conn., has received a $49-million subcontract from Bell Aerospace-Textron for 96 TF40B marine gas turbine engines for the Navy's new Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).

The award includes $8.0-million this year for detail design, longlead procurement, and construction of the first 12 engines, with options totaling over $41-million for subsequent deliveries.

The LCAC craft are the newest addition to the U.S. Navy's amphibious assault landing craft program designed to preserve the capability for the ship-to-shore movement of men, vehicles, and equipment during an amphibious assault. The vehicles can transport a 60-ton payload at 50-knot speeds and are able to cross beach terrain. They will be built at the Bell-Halter facility in New Orleans, La. Each craft will use four of the Lycoming TF40B engines to provide lift as well as thrust. The basic core engine, on which the TF series of Lycoming turbines is based, have accumulated 3,500,000 operating hours.

The marine version has more than 250,000 hours powering ferry boats, patrol ships, and hovercraft.

This commonality of core engine components with the T55 aircraft engines will give the Navy the advantage of being able to draw upon the existing support and spare parts depots established where AVCO-powered helicopters are flying. They will also be able to draw on an established training base in the U.S.

and on the established overhaul facilities in the states and in NATO nations.

The initial contract calls for the delivery of engines starting in late 1983 and continuing until early 1985. There is the potential for production deliveries of four hundred engines, plus spare parts, through the 1990s.

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