Rolls Royce has begun the assembly of first Trent XWB test-powerplant with the higher-thrust capability required for the A350-1000 model. The components for the powerplant arrived in the Rolls-Royce finished parts stores from January to March.
The move follows last year’s Trent XWB-97 critical design review (CDR) and prototype demonstration runs. Progress since last November’s Dubai Airshow has included fabrication of early components, welding of the stator-vane assembly and completion of the intermediate-pressure compressor stage 1 “blisk” (bladed disc).
The Trent XWB-97 engine will be able to generate 97.000 lb (433kN) of thrust compared with the 84.000 lb for the A350-900 model.
It is expected the initial engine run in the second quarter of this year, and the first flight is scheduled for the end of 2016 before the A350-1000 enters service in 2017.
Rolls-Royce is still constructing the first production Trent XWB for the Qatar Airways A350-900 (MSN6) which will be the first customer aircraft to be delivered.
To ensure manufacturing fluency while the new variant is introduced, Rolls Royce will build initial flight-test Trent XWB-97s (at least 8 engines) in a preproduction “factory,” not on current Trent XWB assembly lines.
Based on the article “Build work starts on first A350-1000 engine” published in FlightGlobal
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