Rolls-Royce has officially started building the world's largest aero-engine, UltraFan, which will help redefine sustainable air travel for decades to come.
Work on the first module is underway at our dedicated DemoWorks facility in
The engine is the basis for a potential new family of UltraFan engines able to power both narrowbody and widebody aircraft and deliver a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engine.
That performance improvement is crucial to achieving aviation sustainability. Gas turbines will continue to be the bedrock of long-haul aviation for many years, and UltraFan's efficiency will help improve the economics of an industry transition to more sustainable fuels, which are likely to be more expensive in the short-term than traditional jet fuel. The first test run of the engine will be conducted on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Significant investment has been made to develop the UltraFan demonstrator and associated technologies by Rolls-Royce and a variety of funding agencies, including the
'Companies like Rolls-Royce are playing a critical role as we build back greener from the pandemic and we are committed to giving the whole aerospace sector the support it needs to innovate and reach new heights.'
'I am delighted that the
As engine build starts, other key parts are already coming together for delivery to
UltraFan is part of Rolls-Royce's IntelligentEngine vision - for example each fan blade has a digital twin which stores real-life test data, allowing engineers to predict in-service performance. When on test at Rolls-Royce's new
Key engineering features of the engine include:
A new, proven, Advance 3 core architecture, combined with our ALECSys lean burn combustion system, to deliver maximum fuel burn efficiency and low emissions.
Carbon titanium fan blades and a composite casing that reduce weight by up to 1,500lb per aircraft.
Advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components that operate more effectively in high pressure turbine temperatures.
A geared design that delivers efficient power for the high-thrust, high bypass ratio engines of the future.
An artist's impression of UltraFan and other images are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/rolls-royceplc/
About
Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 [excluding product testing] and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
Annual underlying revenue was
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