Rolls-Royce Tests UltraFan, Its first New Engine Architecture in 54 Years

Aerospace company’s new engine offers a 10 percent efficiency boost that will help current and future designs.

Jonathan Welsh

Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 06:56 PM ET

Verified

The UltraFan is Rolls-Royce's first new engine architecture in 54 years. [Courtesy: Rolls-Royce]

Key Takeaways:

Rolls-Royce successfully completed the first tests of its UltraFan technology demonstrator, marking its first brand new engine design test in 54 years.
The UltraFan demonstrator was tested using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), underscoring a commitment to sustainable aviation.
This new engine is 10 percent more efficient than today’s leading Rolls-Royce engines, with technology capable of improving current models and scalable to power future airliners, contributing to net-zero flight goals by 2050.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Rolls-Royce has announced the completion of the first tests of its UltraFan technology demonstrator at its facility in Derby, United Kingdom. The tests were run using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF.

The aero engine company said this is the first time in 54 years it has tested a brand new engine design, noting the latest architecture’s performance is “a big step” toward improving the efficiency of future engines as well as those currently in production.