The first flight of a new engine is always a good excuse for some serious celebrating and this is certainly the case with BMW Rolls-Royce, where the champagne corks are popping to mark the successful first flight of their BR715 engines on Boeing's 717-200.
The BR715 is the second member of the BMW Rolls-Royce BR700 engine family and is the sole powerplant on the 717, which is built at the company's Long Beach Division in California.
Commenting at Farnborough on the 4h first flight for both engine and airframe, BMW Rolls-Royce chairman Dr Klaus Nittinger says: "With the successful first flight, our company has entered one of the most important and exciting chapters in its history.
"It's an example of the outstanding international teamwork between Boeing, the suppliers and the authorities."
AUTHORITY
Dr Nittinger was referring to the fact that the new engine received its European Joint Airworthiness Authority (JAA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification - and flew for the first time - all within less than a week between 28 August and 2 September.
With a take-off thrust of 18,500-21,000lb, (82,000 - 93,000Kn) the new engine has been designed to be the cleanest, quietest and most cost and fuel-efficient in its class.
Since it ran for the first time in April 1997, the engine has completed more than 2,000h, the final hurdle being the fan blade-off test which it passed with flying colours as the errant blade was fully contained and all the other blades remained intact with no loss of structural integrity.
It also completed all its development tests on - or in advance of - schedule including the 150h endurance type test and those to demonstrate its ability to cope with bird, ice, hail and water ingestion.
The aircraft will now undergo an intensive flight test and certification programme at Boeing's flight test centre in Yuma, Arizona, before entering service with launch customer, US carrier AirTran Airlines in 1999.
Source: Flight Daily News
