Rolls-Royce picked up the top award in the Propulsion category for its first full-scale engine test of the swept fan - a major improvement in fan blade technology.
The fan was tested at 110,000lb thrust that marks a radical improvement in fan blade technology and promises major cost savings to operators. Rolls-Royce claims efficiency improvements of 1.5% which translated into cash equals savings of $1.5 million for each aircraft over its life.
The new fan is already incorporated into the deigns of the latest Trent engines. Rolls-Royce's successful use of a common core in three engines with diverse applications led to the firm also being made a finalist in this category. Joining them was GKN Westland Aerospace Transmissions for its development of a fuse pin system which offers a safe, reliable and predictable response to fan blade events.
Source: Flight Daily News
