Rolls-Royce opens Testbed 80 in Derby

摘要

ROLLS-ROYCE HAS opened Testbed 80, the largest indoor aerospace testbed ever built, after almost three years of construction. Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East said the £90m facility, which boasts a 7,500m2 internal area, "is not only big; it is also smart and features the most advanced testing technology we have ever used".He added: "This incredible piece of infrastructure is a very visible sign of our commitment to this site and secures the future of Derby as the home of large engine development, continuing a history that began in the late 1960s with the RB211."Testbed 80 will support several elements of Rolls-Royce engine-development activities. The facility will in 2022 house the first runs of the UltraFan, the company's next-generation civil demonstrator powerplant, targeted to be 25% more efficient than the first-generation Trent engine.Testbed 80 will also test current engines, including the Trent XWB and the Trent 1000, as they undergo further development to improve performance; the facility has already conducted its first test run on a Trent XWB.Testbed 80 will additionally support testing of hybrid or all-electric flight systems and contribute to Rolls-Royce's work in developing engines able to accommodate sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). The facility has a 140,000-litre fuel tank for different fuel types and the UltraFan demonstrator test in Testbed 80 next year will run on 100% SAF.