Trent XWB: the Rolls-Royce and Airbus A350 jet engine up close for the first time
Fuel efficiency is good for the environment, but it also saves airlines money. That doesn't mean the price of travel is falling. But it does mean a lot energy goes into advancing jet engine technology.
"Suck, squeeze, bang, blow"
Rolls-Royce says its Trent XWB is one of the most fuel-efficient jet engines in the world. The "XWB" stands for "extra wide body," and you can see why. Up close, this thing is huge. The fan blades consist of titanium to improve weight specifications and "fuel burn performance." Engineers describe the way it works as "suck, squeeze, bang, and blow" - all technical terms of course.
Breaking it down
Engineers have to break down the Trent XWB into three parts to transport it. As a result, it's not on show all that often - in fact, the first time was at the 2016 Hanover Fair. It was designed specifically for the Airbus A350 family of aircraft - planes for medium to long-haul flights, seating between 250-440 people. The A350 jetliner entered commercial service in 2015.
Fuel efficiency
Airbus says the new planes are designed for "overcoming the challenges of volatile fuel prices" and addressing environmental concerns. It's a line Rolls-Royce is just as keen to push. Rolls-Royce's Alex Dulewicz says their engines are 15 percent more fuel efficient than in the late 1990s. A 1 percent efficiency gain is equal to a saving of $250,000 (223,000 euro) per aircraft per year, he says.
This jet engine boasts and boosts
Rolls-Royce say the Trent XWB features an "optimized internal air system which reduces core air demand and fuel burn." It's also said to be quieter than other models on the market - but it's still a jet engine, which means you are going to hear it. With advanced cooling technology, the Trent XWB can perform in extreme environments.
"Extra wide" data
The Trent XWB is also highly data-connected. By tracking the engine's performance, Rolls-Royce hope to improve its technology over time. The company is also working with Microsoft for its expertise in data processing and analysis. It always works closely with the airlines as they need to release the data, preferably in real-time, as they fly around the globe.
Sell, sell, sell… fly, fly, fly!
Rolls-Royce say it aims to sell one Trent XWB every day by 2017. That's a lot of jet engines, and a lot of money. A single Trent XWB costs in the range of $20 million (18 million euro). They say it is their fastest seller. They have produced about 1,500 of them so far.