Rolls tests first Trent XWB

Rolls-Royce has begun Trent XWB testing. (RR)

Rolls-Royce has started testing of its Trent XWB engine, with the first example running for the first time in a ground testbed on June 17.

The sixth member of the Trent series of engines, the XWB has been designed as the sole powerplant for the Airbus A350 XWB. RR says that it expects that the engine will be 28 per cent more fuel efficient than pre-Trent generation engines.

The first run has started off an extensive series of tests, which will see seven engines running by early 2011. Flying tests on board an A380 testbed are expected next year, before flight testing on the A350 in 2012.