Engines
Rolls-Royce To Test New Small Engine
Rolls-Royce's intends its new small gas turbine to power hybrid-electric aircraft being developed for the advanced air mobility sector.
Rolls-Royce small gas turbine
Rolls-Royce’s new engine enters its testing phase this summer and associated gearbox trials next year. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce plans to begin testing its still unnamed new small gas turbine engine. The company is preparing the first example for its first run in a test rig at the company’s Dahlewitz plant near Berlin.

Offering a 15 percent increase in efficiency when compared with the company’s current small engine, the M250, the new turbine features an integrated turbogenerator system to power hybrid-electric regional air vehicles in the nine- to 19-passenger category. The company plans to start testing the generator element next year and expects the whole system to enter service in 2029.

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