Rolls-Royce Completes UltraFan Demonstrator; Testing to Commence Early-2023

(19/12/22)  Rolls-Royce has finished the construction of its UltraFan engine technology demonstrator.

The demonstrator engine has since been transported from the build workshop and into Testbed 80 in Derby, England where it was mounted in preparation for testing which is scheduled to commence early next year using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

“Seeing the UltraFan demonstrator come together and getting ready for test in Testbed 80 is a great way to end the year,” said Chris Cholerton, President of Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace. “We have all been waiting for this moment, which is such an important milestone for the programme and for the team who have worked on it. The next stage will be to see UltraFan run for the first time on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel in 2023, proving the technology is ready to support more sustainable flight in the future.”

Rolls-Royce's UltraFan engine technology demonstrator

Combining a brand new engine design with a suite of technologies designed to support sustainable air travel for decades to come, the UltraFan demonstrator has a fan diameter of 140 inches and offers a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engine.

How will UltraFan support the airline industry's journey to net zero aviation?

- In the nearer term, there are options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan development programme to current Trent engines to deliver enhanced fuel efficiency and reductions in emissions; and

- In the longer term, UltraFan’s scalable technology from ~25,000-110,000lb thrust delivers the potential to further improve fuel efficiency of both narrowbody and widebody aircraft by up to 10 per cent.

Testbed 80 was designed and built especially to accommodate the size and technical complexity of the UltraFan demonstrator. It was opened in 2020 and has already completed many hours of experimental engine testing.

The UltraFan technology demonstrator programme has been supported by the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK, the EU’s Clean Sky programmes plus LuFo and the State of Brandenburg in Germany.

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