Rolls-Royce to power longer-range Airbus craft

20th Jun 2011 07:25

Power systems colossus Rolls-Royce has bagged the contract to provide engines for an enhanced version of the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.The new higher thrust version of Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB engine will deliver 97,000 pounds maximum thrust, the company said. The additional thrust will be achieved by the inclusion of new high temperature turbine technology, increasing the size of the engine core and advanced fan aerodynamics. This will help Airbus to offer increased range and capacity for the A350-1000."The higher thrust variant of the Trent XWB incorporates further innovations from our Advance 3 technology demonstrator programmes. Many of the technological and performance improvements of the higher thrust Trent XWB will also be used to enhance performance of other members of the Trent engine family," said Mark King, president of Rolls-Royce's Civil Aerospace division.As with the Trent XWB for the Airbus A350-800 and -900, the higher thrust variant of the Trent XWB is an engine specifically tailored for the aircraft it will power, the A350-1000. The higher thrust version for the -1000 will offer significant benefits in design and systems integration which will reduce fuel burn, life-cycle costs and environmental impact, Rolls-Royce claimed.Currently six Trent XWB engines are being tested and are delivering better thantargeted results. Flight testing of Trent XWB engines is scheduled to beginlater this year.In a separate announcement, Rolls-Royce said it has concluded a contract worth up to $2.2bn at engine list prices, with TAM Airlines of Brazil, to provide Trent XWB engines for Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. The order includes a 12 year agreement for TotalCare long-term services support.It is the first time TAM has ordered engines from Rolls-Royce and follows a previous announcement of the aircraft order made by Airbus. TAM has placed an order for 27 A350 XWBs.--jh