Press release - Rolls-Royce has officially started building the world’s largest aero-engine, UltraFan®

Rolls-Royce has officially started building the world’s largest aero-engine, UltraFan®, which will help redefine sustainable air travel for decades to come.

Work on the first module is underway at their 'DemoWorks facility' in Derby, UK, and the demonstrator engine, which has a fan diameter of 140 inches, will be completed by the end of the year.

The engine is the basis for a potential new family of UltraFan engines able to power both narrowbody and widebody aircraft and deliver a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared with the first generation of Trent engine.

What are the Key engineering features of the engine ?

• A new, proven, Advance 3 core architecture, combined with our ALECSys lean burn combustion system, to deliver maximum fuel burn efficiency and low emissions.
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• Carbon titanium fan blades and a composite casing that reduce weight by up to 1,500lb per aircraft.
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• Advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components that operate more effectively in high pressure turbine temperatures.
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• A geared design that delivers efficient power for the high-thrust, high bypass ratio engines of the future.