Originally Posted by
patrnflyr
Isn't the fan just for looks much like their A-10? I really don't think they're trying to make a turbofan motor but could be wrong...
No, that fan looks to me to clearly be operational - and a fan is needed in a Harrier to give them thrust "ahead" of the engine for the forward nozzles. That fan is constructed such that it should be able to turn at EDF speeds (around 20k+ RPM), but likely not at turbine speeds. I wonder how they plan to drive it? Perhaps a planetary gear box?
Bob