Newsgroups: sci.aeronautics.airliners From: David Lednicer <dave@amiwest.com> Subject: Valsan 727 modifications Date: 20 Mar 94 22:30:06 PST I have been asked what the Valsan reengining program is, so I will describe it here. The Valsan program was intended to make 727-200s compliant with the Stage 3 noise rules. The outer (#1 and #3) JT8D-9, -11, -15 or -17s are replaced with JT8D-217s, which have a higher bypass ratio and are quieter. The -217s are the engine found on the MD-82. The center (#2) engine, being buried in the tailcone, could not be easily replaced, so instead it looses its thrust reverser and gets an internal (bypass/core) mixer, to lower its noise signature. The first modified aircraft, for Sterling Airways of Denmark, re-entered service in October 1988. Aircraft modified have included some Continental aircraft and high gross-weight Federal Express -200s (late model aircraft). After certifying the modified -200, Valsan also certified a similarly modified 727-100. I believe that the first aircraft was a corporate aircraft owned by the Limited. Stories I heard indicate that the reengined -100 is a real hotrod. Since this time, Valsan has also certified and put into service winglets on the -100 and -200. These are intended to cut cruise fuel burn. A 5% improvement is claimed. The RR Tay reengining program is being conducted by Dee Howard for United Parcel Service. In this case, all three engines are replaced by Tay 651-54s. This is a more extensive mod, as the #2 engine air duct has to be completely replaced. The aircraft also gets a glass cockpit at the same time. Dee Howard is under contract to modify 80 aircraft for UPS. Several are now in service. The other 727 program is a Federal Express hushkit. This kit adds internal mixers to all three engines of a -100 or -200. Fedex has installed them on most of their older 727s and Trump/USAir shuttle and Delta also have sprung for this kit. My impression is that this is a cheap modification that involves some gross weight trade-offs for Stage 3 compliance. Both the Valsan and Dee Howard kits up the aircraft's available thrust. Some Valsan engineers told me about taking off in a modified 727-100 with the spoilers inadverantly actuated. They claimed that the rate of climb was still better than with the old engines! In fact, they were talking at one point about removing the #2 engine altogether and turning the 727 into a twin! ------------------------------------------------------------------- David Lednicer | "Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics" Analytical Methods, Inc. | email: dave@amiwest.com 2133 152nd Ave NE | tel: (206) 643-9090 Redmond, WA 98052 | fax: (206) 746-1299 |