Rolls-Royce has hit the 50 million hours milestone for the Trent 700, the first member of its Trent engine family to enter service.
The engine completed its 50 millionth flight hour, equating to flying around the world more than one million times, says the company. This occurred while around 380 Trent 700-powered Airbus A330 aircraft were in flight globally, it added.
The milestone is reassuring news for Rolls-Royce as it uses the experience gained from developing and operating the engine to prepare for the entry into service of its Trent 7000 powerplant, which will start being used on the A330neo later this year.
The 68,000-72,000lb thrust Trent 7000 will deliver a step change in performance and economics compared to the Trent 700, says the company. Benefitting from a bypass ratio double that of its predecessor, it will improve specific fuel consumption by 10% and significantly reduce noise.
Approximately 1,600 Trent 700s are in service today, representing 36% of Rolls-Royce’s installed widebody fleet, and it has been the company’s best-selling engine.
Dominic Horwood, Rolls-Royce’s director, customers and services – Civil Aerospace, described it as “iconic,” adding “As we prepare for the entry into service of its successor, the Trent 7000, this is also a great reminder of the strong foundations on which that engine has been built.”
