Rolls-Royce has announced that the construction of its massive UltraFan engine was complete and is preparing to test it.
This biggest-ever engine was transported from its build workshop into the OEM’s specially designed Testbed 80 in Derby, UK, where it has been mounted for testing. The initial tests which are expected to take place early next year will run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel.
Chris Cholerton, President of Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, said: “Seeing the UltraFan demonstrator come together and getting ready for test in Testbed 80 is a great way to end the year. We have all been waiting for this moment, which is such an important milestone for the program and for the team who have worked on it. The next stage will be to see UltraFan run for the first time on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2023, proving the technology is ready to support more sustainable flight in the future.”
UltraFan offers numerous sustainability solutions that increase fuel efficiency and reduces emissions
The UltraFan fan is made of carbon titanium blades and is 140 inches (3.56 meters) in diameter. The engine uses 25% less fuel as compared with the first generation of the Trent engine.
So using brand-new engine design and some other set of technologies, it will make air travel more sustainable for decades.
In the near term, the technology could also be used to improve the efficiency and sustainability of our current Trent engines. In the longer term, UltraFan’s scalable technology from ~25,000-110,000lb thrust will help in further improving the fuel efficiency of both narrowbody and widebody aircraft by up to 10%.
“The UltraFan demonstrator is designed for the future – it will be ready to run on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel from day one of service. In addition, we are actively exploring potential options for hybrid-electric and hydrogen power solutions,” explains Rolls Royce.
