Rolls-Royce has received its first firm order for the RB.211-524G/H-T turbofan from South African Airways (SAA). The engine is a hybrid combination of the Trent 700 high-pressure core and the existing -524G/H low-pressure system. The powerplants will be fitted to two new Boeing 747-400s now on order and will be retrofitted on to SAA's existing fleet of four aircraft.
British Airways, which has now officially confirmed its selection of the RB.211-524 for 14 747-400s on order, is still deciding on whether to opt for the G/H-T version, according to R-R, which obtained "bench" certification from the UK Civil Aviation Authority in May.
R-R has finalised arrangements for aircraft certification, and the first engine will be shipped to the USA in October for flight testing on a new 747-400.
"We are expecting aircraft certification before the end of January 1998," says engineering and technology director Phil Ruffles. The engine is expected to provide a 2% improvement in fuel consumption and a weight saving of around 360kg per shipset.
More importantly, R-R hopes that the hybrid engine will have better reliability and performance retention, thus giving operators longer on-wing life.
Source: Flight International
