UltraFan Engine Gearbox Development Under Way

First metal has been cut by Aerospace Transmission Technologies, the 50:50 Rolls-Royce/Liebherr-Aerospace joint venture set up to develop and manufacture the power gearbox for the UK partner’s planned UltraFan engine. The cooperative effort has begun to operate at the German company’s Friedrichshafen site.

With experience from thousands of engines in service, R-R (Stand 1134) will lead gearbox design definition, and integration, as well as testing, while Liebherr will manufacture power-gear drive-train components. A power-gearbox test center is being built at R-R Deutschland’s Dahlewitz site, south of Berlin. The 30-strong workforce will be led by managing directors Heike Liebe and Dr. Rob Harvey.