Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97s on Display with A350-1000

Hung on the composite wings of the Airbus A350-1000 here in the static park, the pair of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97s feature prominently among all the engines on display in Singapore.

The exclusive powerplant for the big Airbus, the 97,000-pound-thrust engine builds on the success of the 84,000-pound-thrust version of the Trent XWB now celebrating 1 million flying hours on the A350-900.

Although visually almost identical to its smaller sibling, the higher-thrust version features a fan that runs about six percent faster. Meanwhile, Rolls has increased the size of the engine core to cope with the consequential increased airflow into the compressor, as well as higher temperatures in the combustor and turbines.

The engine also features new materials and coatings for the high-pressure turbine blades as well an “intelligent” cooling system to ensure the engine can deliver its expected performance and efficiency at the higher temperatures generated in the turbine.

The Trent XWB-97 marks the second entry into service of a new Rolls-Royce widebody engine in less than two months. The Trent 1000 took flight at the end of last year powering the Boeing 787 and Rolls expects a third new engine—the Trent 7000—to enter service later this year.