Rolls-Royce Trent XWB completes first test flight

20 February 2012

              ROLLS-ROYCE TRENT XWB COMPLETES FIRST TEST FLIGHT

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine has taken to the skies for the first time,
powering an Airbus A380 test aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew
with one of its four Trent 900 engines replaced by a Trent XWB.

The Trent XWB is the most efficient civil aircraft engine on offer in the world
and will power the new Airbus A350 XWB.

The Trent XWB is the fastest-selling Trent engine ever, with more than 1,100
already sold. At the 2011 Paris Airshow Rolls-Royce also announced that it will
be the exclusive engine supplier for the longer range A350-1000 aircraft.

Chris Young, Rolls-Royce, Trent XWB Programme Director, said: "It's a great
moment to see the Trent XWB take to the air for the first time. Today's flight is
the product of years of work and demonstrates the progress being made on our
journey to deliver this world leading technology."

The Trent XWB ran on a ground test bed for the first time in June 2010 and test
results have shown it to be the most efficient large civil aerospace engine
ever produced.

Data recorded during a series of test flights that will accumulate around 
175 flight hours and which will run for a seven month period, will validate results
from ground testing and demonstrate the engine's in-flight performance. The
Trent XWB has already successfully completed more than 1,500 hours of testing,
including endurance running, icing and simulated altitude.

Notes to Editors:

1. Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for
   use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in
   global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.

2. As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base
   comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and
   helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers,
   including 70 navies, and energy customers in more than 80 countries.

3. Annual underlying revenues were £11.3 billion in 2011, of which more than
   half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book
   stood at £62.2 billion at 31 December 2011, providing visibility of future
   levels of activity.

4. Rolls-Royce employs up to 40,000 people in offices, manufacturing and
   service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are
   engineers.

5. In 2011, Rolls-Royce invested £908 million on research and development, 
   two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental
   performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.

6. Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres,
   which connect the company's engineers with the forefront of scientific
   research.

7. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and
   to further developing employee skills.

For further information, please contact:

Investors:                                                       
Simon Goodson
Director - Investor Relations
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]

Media:
Josh Rosenstock
Director of External Communications
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]

www.Rolls-Royce.com