Rolls Royce Trent 1000 1st Test Run

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14 February 2006
Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the first test bed run of its Trent 1000 engine, being developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The engine ran exactly to schedule against the date of 14 February set almost three years earlier.

As launch engine on the Boeing 787, the Trent 1000 is the first of the aircraft’s powerplants to run, and will also be the first in the air when it takes to the skies on a Rolls-Royce Boeing 747 flying test bed in the first quarter of 2007.

Following certification by the airworthiness authorities next summer, it will power the 787 Dreamliner’s first flight and will begin commercial operations with launch customer ANA (All Nippon Airways) in mid 2008.

Senior executives from ANA took part in a “Final Bolt” ceremony, symbolically marking completion of the first engine, before it was passed to test ahead of plan.

Dominic Horwood, Director of Boeing Programmes at Rolls-Royce, said: “Initial testing is proceeding very smoothly, and everything we’ve seen is in line with expectations. We have delivered on our promise to our customers to run the Trent 1000 on time, and that’s really important to us. It’s just a great start to our programme.

“We’re really proud of the whole team. The efforts of our workforce, partners and suppliers, together with the close co-operation of Boeing’s 787 project team and our airline customers, have been key factors in getting us to this point exactly on plan.”

Mike Bair, Vice President and General Manager of the 787 programme at Boeing added: "It is exciting for the entire international 787 team to see the progress being made on the first 787 engine. Rolls-Royce is helping us demonstrate to the airlines of the world that the faith they have placed in us with their overwhelming response to the 787 Dreamliner is well deserved. Together, we will meet their expectations."

The engine started electrically, first time, using a new design feature called IP Power Offtake. This involves dual use starter-generators which act as both electrical starters on the ground, and power generators while airborne. In flight, power is created by mechanically driving the generators using the engine’s intermediate pressure compressor, including power for the cabin Environmental Conditioning System (ECS) rather than taking conventional bleed air. Each Trent 1000 is capable of generating around 0.5MW of electrical energy to power the increased number of electrical systems used in the Boeing 787.

The first engine is one of seven to be used in ground testing, while a further nine are earmarked for the flight test programme.

With a range of thrust from 53,200lb to 75,000lb, the Trent 1000 is capable of powering all versions of the 787 Dreamliner.

The engine has 15 per cent lower fuel burn than those of a decade ago, and delivers 40 per cent lower emissions than required by current international legislation.

Source: www.RollsRoyce.com

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