Flight Testing Programme

Rolls-Royce PLC
4 September 2000


ROLLS-ROYCE TRENT 500 COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TESTING

The Rolls-Royce Trent 500, sole engine in development for new ultra long-range
versions of the Airbus Industrie A340, has passed a major milestone by
successfully completing its initial flight test programme. It remains on
target for engine certification by the airworthiness authorities in December.

Ian Kinnear, Director Trent 500/900 programmes at Rolls-Royce said: 'The
engine was operated across a wide range of flight conditions and the results
were excellent. The Trent was responsive and met all handling specifications.
It underlined the positive outlook for the remainder of the development
schedule.' 

A total of 29 flights and 47 flying hours have been completed since June on 
Airbus Industrie's A340-300 testbed, with a single Trent 500 replacing one of
the four smaller engines. 

Meanwhile, the first Trent 500s for use in next year's flight certification
programme on the initial A340-600 aircraft have been delivered to Airbus in
Toulouse ahead of the contract date set three years ago. The engines will
shortly be installed on the first of three A340-600s being used in the joint
aircraft/engine certification process. An A340-500 will also be involved in
that test programme.

A total of almost 2,000 test hours have now been logged by the seven Trent
500s used so far in development. Mandatory safety tests including fan blade
containment and bird ingestion required by the airworthiness authorities have
been completed successfully. 

Orders and commitments for a total of 127 of the four-engined A340-500 and 
-600 airliners have been placed by 10 customers resulting in advance Trent 500
  sales of almost $6 billion for Rolls-Royce. The A340-600 will enter service
with Virgin Atlantic in Spring 2002 followed by the A340-500 with Air Canada
later that year.


Trent family background: 

Firm and option orders for more than 1,300 Trent series engines have been
placed by 25 customers. Trent sales to date are valued at $16 billion and the
Trent family has an overall market share approaching 50 per cent on new
generation widebody aircraft. 

The Trent 800 is the engine of choice for the Boeing 777 with a 44 per cent
market share. Eleven customers have ordered over 250 Trent-powered 777s.
The Trent 700, the first of the series to enter service in 1995, has taken
nearly 40 per cent of the Airbus Industrie A330 market, attracting a total of
15 customers. 

In an announcement last week the Trent 900 became the first engine type
selected to power the Airbus Industrie A3XX super-jumbo. International Lease
Finance Corporation of the United States placed an order for Trent 700, 800
and 900 engines to power a total of 37 A330, Boeing 777 and A3XX aircraft. The
value of the engine business to Rolls-Royce is $910 million.

An agreement has been signed with Boeing for the Trent 600 variant to be
offered on future developments of Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft.

Note to editors:  Rolls-Royce plc is a global company providing power on land,
sea and air. The company has established leading positions in civil aerospace,
defence, marine and energy markets. Its core gas turbine technology has
created one of the broadest product ranges of aero engines in the world, with
55,000 engines in service in over 150 countries. Customers include more than
500 airlines, 2,400 corporate and utility operators and 160 armed forces,
using both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. 

Rolls-Royce is the global leader in marine power systems with a broad product
range and full systems integration capability. Over 2,000 marine customers and
more than 30 navies use Rolls-Royce propulsion. The company is investing in
new products and capabilities for energy markets that include the oil and gas
industry and power generation. It also develops its own power projects through
Rolls-Royce Power Ventures Ltd.

Rolls-Royce pioneered gas turbine technology for aerospace, power generation
and marine propulsion and is involved in major future programs in these
fields. These include the Trent aero and industrial engines, the Eurofighter
Typhoon and Joint Strike Fighter combat engines, the WR21 marine engine and
leading edge water jet propulsion systems.

For further information contact:
Martin Johnson 
Head of Communications - Civil Aerospace
Tel:            (44) 1332 248688
Fax:           [phone]
E-mail:  [e-mail]