Aircraft

Video: Rolls-Royce Trent 900 Airbus A380 engine tests aired on Discovery channel

By Aimée Turner

Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 passed a critical test in July 2004, only a few weeks after flight tests on the A380 powerplant began.

The fan-blade containment trial at the company’s UK plant at Hucknall involved powering the engine to full rotational speed and then jettisoning one of the blades using an explosive charge at its anchor point.

Both the blade and its debris were contained successfully and the engine performed a controlled shut-down.The science and nature television channel Discovery aired a documentary on the A380 late last year that captured the test (see below).

“Although computer simulations accurately predicted this result it is always good to see it validated by the reality of the test,” says Rolls-Royce director for Airbus programmes Ian Crawford.

The Rolls-Royce Trent 900 – developed with seven risk-sharing partners – has been selected by seven A380 operators including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and Etihad Airways.

To see more Airbus A380 pictures and videos please visit our A380 page