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 completed initial tests of its UltraFan technology demonstrator, running successfully on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
This represents the first new engine design tested by Rolls-Royce in 54 years, demonstrating a 10 percent efficiency improvement over its current Trent XWB engine.
The UltraFan technology is a significant step towards net-zero aviation by 2050, as it is scalable for future airliners and can enhance the efficiency and reliability of existing engine models.

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.