Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has successfully completed the first run of an upgraded version of the Trent 1000 that will be the launch engine for the latest member of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family, the 787-9.

The Trent 1000 Package C programme will provide 74,000lb thrust for the 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which is due to enter service with Air New Zealand in 2014. Trent 1000 Package C engines will also begin powering 787-8 aircraft that enter service later in 2014.

The engine began running on a test bed in Derby in April and is scheduled to complete an extensive test programme over the next eight weeks.

Two Trent 1000 Package C engines are now being built for initial flight testing on the Rolls-Royce 747-200 flying test bed, with a three-month programme scheduled to begin in the summer which will optimise a new advanced turbine case cooling system to improve efficiency.

Rolls-Royce will deliver production standard Trent 1000 Package C engines to Boeing from 2013 to support its 787-9 flight test programme.

Simon Carlisle, Rolls-Royce, Programme Director – Trent 1000, said: “This is another important chapter in the evolution of the Trent 1000 as we prepare for the launch of the next member of the 787 Dreamliner family. Our in-service experience on the Boeing Dreamliner and our rigorous improvement programmes give us the platform to deliver the best engine for the 787-9.”

Trent 1000 Package C has been optimised to deliver a fuel burn improvement of 1% over the Package B engine standard.

The Trent 1000 powered the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s entry into service with All Nippon Airways (ANA) in October 2011 and has now completed more than 7,000 flying hours with a 99.9% dispatch reliability – a record for a widebody engine.

Rolls Royce press release