Rolls-Royce expected to make the first run of the Trent 900 for the Airbus A380 on, or just before 17 March, meeting a schedule set over 18 months ago. The engine is the first of seven test Trent 900s in the programme which will end with certification around October 2004. The engine will begin flight tests on an A340-300 testbed in May 2004, before powering the A380-800 for its first flight around January 2005. The first Trent 900-powered A380-800 is due to enter service with launch customer Singapore Airlines in March 2006. The engine will be certificated at 80,000lb thrust (356kN), although it will enter service de-rated to 70,000lb.
Source: Flight International
