Trent 500 exceeds expectations in debut testing

June 14th, 1999

The Rolls-Royce Trent 500, sole powerplant for growth versions of the Airbus Industrie A340, has exceeded its planned certification thrust of 60,000lb after less than three hours on test, demonstrating better than predicted levels of performance, it was announced today at the Paris Air Show.

The initial development engine reached a thrust of 68,000lb. In service, the Trent 500 will be rated at 53,000lb for the A340-500 and 56,000lb for the A340-600.

Aerospace companies from around the world are involved in the Trent 500 programme. In Europe, FiatAvio of Italy, the Spanish company Industria de Turbopopulsores, in which Rolls-Royce has a 47 per cent shareholding, Fokker Elmo of the Netherlands and Lucas of the UK are risk and revenue sharing partners (RSPs). In Japan, IHI, KHI and Marubeni are also RSPs, as is Hamilton Sundstrand of the USA.

Project Director Charles Cuddington said: "This is an excellent start for the Trent 500, underlining our confidence that this will be a very predictable development programme."

Testing of the latest Trent variant began on May 29 at the company's Derby facilities and continues on plan. The first engine is due to complete 60 hours running by the end of June. A second Trent 500 goes to test later this month and a total of six development engines will be running by the end of the year. Next year sees the first flight of the Trent 500 on an Airbus flying test bed.

The Trent 500 has the same 97.5 inch diameter fan as the Trent 700 and a core scaled from the Trent 800. The consequent bypass ratio of 8.5:1 benefits fuel efficiency and lowers noise levels. Latest technologies incorporated in the Trent 500 include new fan aerodynamics, increased efficiency 3-D design compressors and turbines, and a low emissions, tiled combustor for ease of maintenance.

Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to take the first A340-600 in 2002, while the first A340- 500 will be received by Air Canada later that year. Over 100 Trent 500 engines will be delivered in the six months following entry into service.

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