Engines
Meeting the Operational Challenge
In both engineering and visual terms, the open rotor is a huge departure from the turbofans that power today’s aircraft.

In both engineering and visual terms, the open rotor is a huge departure from the turbofans that power today’s aircraft. As such, Rolls-Royce believes its market acceptance will involve a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment in which it will function.

Two years ago, the company formed a Future Programmes team specifically to look at the implications of the open rotor in the passenger airliner market. Part of the motivation was Rolls’ recent experience with the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 programs, each of which required major last-minute changes to the engines. The fan diameter of the Trent 900 powering the A380 had to be increased because of tougher noise restrictions at London Heathrow, while the Boeing 787 weight growth meant the thrust of the Trent 1000 had to grow.