It's quite a beast - the "largest engine/prop combination ever to be
designed and produced in the Western world" in fact. And here's the
first released pix of yesterday's ground run on a C-130 at Marshall
Aerospace in Cambridge, UK. The engine, produced by the pan-European
Europrop International consortium of Rolls-Royce, ITP, MTU and Snecma
is the critical factor in the timing of the first flight of the
four-engine A400M this summer. The eight-bladed prop is courtesy of Ratier-Figeac and Hamilton Sundstrand.
on June 11, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply
Now that what I call chocks!
on June 11, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply
Indeed, and specially constructed for the purpose.
on June 11, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply
Note the two extra bracing struts. Amazing!
on June 12, 2008 9:26 AM | Reply
It looks awesome,
Shame Marshall Aerospace couldn't tell the huge number of employees that made the project possible that the engine run was going to happen as alot of people would have liked to see it...
Oh well, back to excel bashing I go
on June 12, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply
That is proper! Wonder what they use to balance the other wing. Prop looks a bit close to the fuselage though like... wass gaain on!
on June 12, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply
Sounds like another bitter excel bashing glory hunter, I take it they were being paid by there company? ,so what is the problem. Looks like an amazing project to be invloved with though.
on June 12, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply
OOPS - fitted a prop where a fan should have been.
on June 12, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply
PatladiiiiI!....some next creature likE!
on June 12, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply
That's the best air conditioning unit I have ever seen. Bish, bash bosh - the jobs a good'n!
on June 12, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply
When ducted fans first became flavour of the month I predicted that weight saving would be possible by (a) eliminating the cowl, (b) increasing blade length and (c) reducing the number of blades. 40 years on they've done it!
Blade size is limited by fuselage and ground clearances.
on June 12, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply
YEEAAAH BOI! I bet that prop made a sick sound when it was ground tested bruvs. What izz gaain on!
on June 12, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply
Thats mad init!!
on June 12, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply
That engine is a monster?! Some next creature like!
on June 12, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply
Good choice of name Mr Janus. Very appropriate.
on June 12, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply
What a hugh one! I've never seen one that big!
on June 12, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply
Awesome engine...I can't help but worry about the fatigue implications on the skin.. Let's hope the fatigue guys have done a good job hey? ;-)
on June 12, 2008 9:13 PM | Reply
Wow, awesome engine. I worked with the allison's and I am amazed by the comparision side by side in size. Thanks.
on June 13, 2008 9:00 AM | Reply
Wow... seems like even the Incredibile Back (aka The Molems) won't be able to face that extraordinary engine!!
on June 13, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply
Has there been a run on hard hats in Cambridge yet?
on June 17, 2008 3:26 AM | Reply
Maybe they should have hunted up a Belfast.
Looks a bit cruel on the Herc.
on June 17, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply
More a case of a Belslow I think you'll find.
on September 30, 2010 8:03 AM | Reply
I always have this fear that suddenly the engine will break loose from it's hinges and flies off into a crowd of highly valueable engineers and technicians in front of it. Imagine if that happens, scary thought huh? (And yes I'm aware that normally nobody would be in front of an engine - but still