Trent XWB-97 shipped to Toulouse for flight testing

Following in the footsteps of its smaller sister, the Trent XWB-97 is making great development strides, with 5 out of 8 development engines already run and the milestone of 1000 cycles, achieved. The next key marker is the Flying Test Bed (FTB) engine which has been built and delivered to Airbus in Toulouse. It is being prepared to be installed onto the Airbus A380 in-house flying test bed aircraft. Since the first run on July 11th 2014, the Trent XWB-97 has had a great start to the development programme, completing many key tests including x-ray and icing testing. It has completed 838 hours running, equivalent to 1,390 cycles (ie flights). Confidence is high in achieving all of the targets supported by a series of good test results. The first 150 hour endurance test completed in June included 16 hours at maximum take-off thrust, another development engine is at our Stennis facility in Mississippi, USA undergoing fan flutter and cross-wind tests. When the Trent XWB-97 takes to the air on the A380 flying testbed during autumn, another first will have been achieved. It will be the only Rolls-Royce product to include a major structure built using additive layer manufacturing (ALM), so-called 3D printing: the 1.5m-diameter titanium front bearing housing.