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Rolls-Royce has today announced the commencement of testing of the F130 engine in Indianapolis, a step closer to delivery for the US Air Force B-52J Stratofortress. The First Engine to Test (FETT) sea-level testing will see the initial version of the F130 software run in the newly refurbished Test Cell 114.
In addition, Rolls-Royce successfully concludes rapid Twin Pod testing this week. The tests at NASA’s Stennis marked the first time F130 engines were tested in the B-52 aircraft’s twin-pod engine configuration. The tests produced critical performance data, validating Rolls-Royce’s analytical predictions, including performance in crosswind conditions, and further reducing the risk of integrating the F130 engine on the B-52J.
Testing at NASA’s Stennis facility has played a critical role in meeting initial test objectives and delivering at the exact pace defined by the Air Force. This test data informs the F130 engine’s Critical Design Review (CDR) production configuration, planned for fall 2024.
Test Cell 114 is a state-of-the-art facility capable of supporting a range of development and production acceptance tests. Rolls-Royce recently refurbished the test cell as part of a $1 billion investment in modernising its Indianapolis facility to deliver innovation and advanced manufacturing to the Air Force and other US workforce customers. The F130 engines will be built, assembled and tested in Indianapolis, Rolls-Royce’s largest production facility in the US.
The F130 engines will extend the service life of the B-52 aircraft for 30 years. The engines are so durable that they are expected to remain on the wing for the remainder of the aircraft’s service life. The F130 is from Rolls-Royce’s BR family of commercial engines, with over 30 million operating hours and a high reliability rating. It is a proven and reliable engine that has been in production for 12 years, with over 1,000 engines currently flying.
Rolls-Royce/August 05, 2024
