14th Feb 2006 15:46
14 February, 2006 ROLLS-ROYCE RUNS FIRST TRENT 1000 ON SCHEDULE Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the first test bed run of its Trent 1000engine, being developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The engine ran exactlyto 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 theaircraft's powerplants to run, and will also be the first in the air when ittakes to the skies on a Rolls-Royce Boeing 747 flying test bed in the firstquarter of 2007.Following certification by the airworthiness authorities next summer, it willpower the 787 Dreamliner's first flight and will begin commercial operationswith launch customer ANA (All Nippon Airways) in mid 2008.Senior executives from ANA took part in a "Final Bolt" ceremony, symbolicallymarking completion of the first engine, before it was passed to test ahead ofplan.Dominic Horwood, Director of Boeing Programmes at Rolls-Royce, said: "Initialtesting is proceeding very smoothly, and everything we've seen is in line withexpectations. We have delivered on our promise to our customers to run theTrent 1000 on time, and that's really important to us. It's just a great startto our programme."We're really proud of the whole team. The efforts of our workforce, partnersand suppliers, together with the close co-operation of Boeing's 787 projectteam and our airline customers, have been key factors in getting us to thispoint exactly on plan."Mike Bair, Vice President and General Manager of the 787 programme at Boeingadded: "It is exciting for the entire international 787 team to see theprogress being made on the first 787 engine. Rolls-Royce is helping usdemonstrate to the airlines of the world that the faith they have placed in uswith 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 calledIP Power Offtake. This involves dual use starter-generators which act as bothelectrical starters on the ground, and power generators while airborne. Inflight, power is created by mechanically driving the generators using theengine's intermediate pressure compressor, rather than the conventional methodof drawing compressed air from the engines. Each Trent 1000 is capable ofgenerating around 0.5MW of electrical energy to power the increased number ofelectrical systems used in the Boeing 787.The first engine is one of seven to be used in ground testing, while a furthernine are earmarked for the flight test programme.With a range of thrust from 53,200lb to 75,000lb, the Trent 1000 is capable ofpowering all versions of the 787 Dreamliner.The engine has 15 per cent lower fuel burn than those of a decade ago, anddelivers40 per cent lower emissions than required by current international legislation.NOTE TO EDITORS 1. To see video and photographs of the Trent 1000 and its first run, visit the media room at www.rolls-royce.com or www.thenewsmarket.com/rolls-royce 2. Firm orders have been placed for a total of 87 Trent 1000-powered Boeing 787s by ANA, Air New Zealand, Icelandair, LOT Polish Airlines, Northwest Airlines and leasing company LCAL. 3. Risk and revenue sharing partners on the Trent 1000 programme are Carlton Forge Works (fan case), Goodrich (engine control system), Hamilton Sundstrand (gearbox), ITP (low pressure turbine), KHI (intermediate compressor module) and MHI (combustor and low pressure turbine blades). 4. The Trent 1000 is the fifth member of the Trent series, the first of which entered service in 1995. By the time the Trent 1000 begins commercial operations, the Trent family will have accumulated around 30 million flying hours. For further information contact:Martin JohnsonVice President, CommunicationsRolls-RoycePO Box 31, DerbyDE24 8BJUKTel: +44 (0)1332 269911Email: [email protected] GROUP PLCRelated Shares:
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