LONDON – Rolls-Royce has announced that they have officially started to build the world’s largest aero-engine, UltraFan, which they say will help redefine sustainable air travel for decades to come.
The UltraFan demonstrator engine is currently being produced at the engine manufacturers DemoWorks facility in Derby, UK, and is due to be finished by the end of the year, when finished the engine will have a fan diameter of 140 inches.
UK Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, said: “The UltraFan project is a perfect example of how we are working with industry to deliver green, sustainable flight for decades to come. Backed with significant government support, this project represents the scale of ambition for Britain’s crucial aerospace sector.
“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.”
The new engine is part of an UltraFan engine family that they plan to develop as their future focus with engines being built to provide power to both narrow and widebody aircraft, delivering a 25 percent fuel efficiency improvement compared to the companies first generation of the very popular Trent engine range.
New engine ranges such as these are being developed to not only be more efficient but also to be set to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel as the global aviation market moves towards lowering its carbon footprint.
Photo: Rolls-Royce Ultra Fan Engine demonstrator being built at manufacturers Derby DemoWorks Facility
Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said: “This is an exciting moment for all of us at Rolls-Royce. Our first engine demonstrator, UF001, is now coming together and I’m really looking forward to seeing it built and ready for the test. It is arriving at a time when the world is seeking ever more sustainable ways to travel in a post-COVID 19 world, and it makes me and all our team very proud to know we are part of the solution.
“I am delighted that the UK and German governments have supported us in making these significant ground-breaking technology investments. The Aerospace Technology Institute and LuFo programs, as well as the EU’s Clean Sky, have all helped bring us a step closer to realizing the enormous environmental and economic benefits of UltraFan.”
When building such large engines there becomes a point where they must also reduce the weight, this has been achieved by the company’s plans to have the UltraFan engines fan blades built out of Carbon Titanium and composite casting, which is estimated to reduce the weight of each aircraft by 1,500lbs.
In addition to this, the engines will also have a new and proven Advance 3 core architecture which combined with Rolls-Royces our ALECSys lean-burn combustion system, will be able to deliver maximum fuel burn efficiency and low emissions.
