Pictures of Cold War aircraft. (3 Viewers)

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The basic fuselage had to be redesigned for the Spey.
Yes, exactly. Just as if you tried to stuff a TF-33 into a J-57 cowl by adding on scoops and bulges. It seems that the Spey's history outside of British designed aircraft was less than stellar. The A-7D had a Spey and the USAF got so disgusted with it they got rid of it a whole lot earlier than the USN. Based on what I saw and heard at the depot it appears AFLC tried to dismantle a custom-assembled engine that used match drilled components, and then put it back together as if it did not matter which part went with which engine. Add in the depot maintenance guys doing things like substituting grease for a very large O-ring they had trouble getting in the groove and you have the biggest time bomb engine since the Jumo 004.
 
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The source: smithsonianmag.com
 

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