Rolls-Royce Poised For UltraFan Demonstrator Assembly

Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan next-generation turbofan is still without an application. Despite the uncertainty, the engine-maker is pressing on with assembly of the first demonstrator this year as a pivotal step toward building trust in the technology and preparing for production variants when the time is ripe. Although the engine-maker signaled in January that it will suspend further investment in the geared-engine concept beyond development of the 87,000-lb.-thrust demonstrator-—pending emerging opportunities—the scalable design remains vital to Rolls-Royce’s sustainable-product plan. But recognizing the realities of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the air transport market, Geer says: “The pace at which we move is a function of the pace the world needs us to move, as well as our own ambition.