Tue, Jan 04, 2005
Plan: Modify 747-400 To Test Engines
L-3 Communications says its
Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) subsidiary has been selected by
Rolls-Royce for a contract valued at approximately $20 million. The
job: develop a flying test bed for risk-reduction flight testing of
the Trent 1000 engine, which Rolls-Royce has developed for the new
Boeing 7E7 aircraft.
This program requires the modification of a Boeing 747-200
aircraft to include a pylon strut adaptor to interface with the
Trent 1000 engine. L-3 IS will be responsible for the aircraft
modification, maintenance, logistics support and flight crews for
the duration of the engine test program.
"As an industry leader in aircraft modification and
modernization, this contract is of great strategic interest to L-3
Communications as it provides another opportunity to demonstrate
our excellence in flight sciences and aerospace engineering," said
Bob Drewes, president of L-3 IS.
The announcement by Rolls-Royce
represents the completion of a commercially competitive program
that has focused on providing the best overall value to the
customer. The engineering phase of the program will begin
immediately, with the aircraft arriving at the L-3 IS Waco, Texas
facility in the first quarter of 2005. The program will draw
heavily on engineering, production and flight test experience from
other major 747 aircraft modification programs being accomplished
at the Waco facility.
The Trent 1000 is the lead engine on the Boeing 7E7 program,
having been selected by launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) to
power its fleet of 50 Dreamliners. The engine has also been chosen
by Air New Zealand, the only other Boeing 7E7 customer to make a
selection. Development testing of the Trent 1000 will start in
Spring 2006, leading to certification by the airworthiness
authorities in 2007. It will enter service with ANA in 2008.
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