Aircraft powered exclusively by Derby-built Rolls-Royce engines has completes world tour
An aircraft powered exclusively by Derby-built Rolls-Royce engines has completed a "world tour" as part of its final phase of testing before it can operate commercial flights.
The Airbus A350-900 XWB (extra wide body) powered by Trent XWB engines – designed, developed and manufactured at Rolls-Royce's civil aerospace division at Sinfin – has completed the three-week "route proving" tour, which took in 14 major world cities.
The test was designed to demonstrate the aircraft's readiness for airline operations and saw it fly through a variety of environments, including via the North Pole.
It started its tour on July 24 and touched down in Toulouse, France, on Wednesday evening. In total, the aircraft flew 81,700 miles and spent 180 hours in the air, with all flights performing on schedule.
Click here for more information.
