Aircraft

By Max Kingsley-Jones in London

Rolls-Royce says the performance in hot conditions of the Airbus A380’s Trent 900 engines has validated pre-test predictions, following the evaluation of data from the recent tests in Abu Dhabi.

Last month A380 development aircraft MSN004 - wearing the colours of Abu Dhabi’s flag carrier Etihad Airways - spent a week in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, where it operated every day from the Al Ain airfield. 12 test flights were conducted in average daily temperatures of 43-47ºC (109-115ºF), during which 120 engine test hours were accumulated.

“The engines produced excellent results, including running at maximum power in these most arduous conditions, and were closely in line with computer predictions,” says R-R Trent 900 programme director Chris Cholerton.

R-R says that the engines were operated at a variety of conditions across the flight envelope, including running at the maximum certificated thrust of 80,000lb (356kN).

52 individual tests were completed – the majority relating specifically to engine performance. Overall, the Trent 900 has completed more than 25,000 take-off and landing cycles in flight test and during ground running and over 6,500 engine hours on four A380s.