Airport

Rolls-Royce to start UltraFan prototype tests this year

Rolls-Royce has announced the completion of the world’s largest aero-engine technology demonstration, UltraFan®, which will provide a portfolio of technologies to support sustainable air travel for decades to come.

During the Farnborough Airshow, Rolls-Royce announced their new engine Demonstrator Ultra fan, which might be the newest technology generation in aviation, benefiting airlines more in terms of capacity and efficiency.

The 140-inch-fan-diameter demonstrator engine is being finished at the RR plant in Derby, UK, before its inaugural flight later this year on 100 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel. When compared to the original generation Trent engine, it improves fuel efficiency by 25%.

Courtesy : Rolls Royce

UltraFan provides a wide range of environmental solutions. In the near future, there may be opportunities to adapt innovations from the UltraFan development programme to current Trent engines, resulting in even greater fuel efficiency and emission reductions.

Longer future, UltraFan’s scalable technology from 25,000 to 100,000lb thrust has the ability to power new narrowbody and widebody aircraft in the 2030s.

Courtesy : Rolls-Royce

UltraFan provides a framework for the utilisation of a variety of energy options and power systems, including current jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuels, as well as future hybrid-electric and hydrogen potential.

Key engineering features of the engine include:

A new, proven, Advance3 core architecture, combined with our ALECSys lean burn combustion system, to deliver maximum fuel burn efficiency and low emissions
Carbon titanium fan blades and a composite casing
Advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components that operate more effectively at high pressures and temperatures
A geared design that delivers efficient power for the high-thrust, high bypass ratio engines of the future. The power gearbox has run at 64MW, an aerospace record

When UltraFan is on test at Rolls-Royce’s new £90m Testbed 80 facility, data can be taken from more than 10,000 parameters, detecting the tiniest of vibrations at a rate of up to 200,000 samples per second.

Airport

Western Sydney Airport Welcomes Its First Plane After 6 Years of construction

In a historic milestone for Australia’s aviation sector, the first plane has officially taken off and landed at Western Sydney Airport after six years of construction, much to the delight of a small but enthusiastic group of dedicated planespotters.

A test pilot made the inaugural landing using a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, successfully completing a series of take-off and landing runs on the newly built tarmac. This crucial test paves the way for larger passenger aircraft, which are expected to start using the runway in two years.

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The Piper PA-30 was employed to assess the airport’s approximately 3,000 Aeronautical Ground Lights (AGLs) by executing operations in various conditions, including daylight, dusk, and evening. This testing ensures that the lighting system is fit for purpose and ready to welcome aircraft when the airport opens to commercial flights in late 2026.

The pilot also highlighted that the rapid exit taxiways have been designed at a 45-degree angle, allowing for quicker transitions on and off the runway. Once operational, the airport will feature a single runway capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually right from day one.

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As the construction phase nears completion, the airport’s main terminal, apron, and supporting infrastructure will be ready to accommodate around 81,000 flights each year. This milestone marks a significant moment for Western Sydney Airport, the first new airport to open in Australia since Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport more than two decades ago.

Major airlines, including Qantas and Jetstar, have already committed to operating from the 24/7 facility, signaling strong support for this new hub. By 2033, the airport aims to handle up to 10 million passengers and facilitate extensive air traffic movements annually.