Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the first test bed run of its Trent 1000 engine, being developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The engine ran exactly to schedule against the date of 14 February set almost three years earlier.
As launch engine on the Boeing 787, the Trent 1000 is the first of the aircraft’s powerplants to run, and will also be the first in the air when it takes to the skies on a Rolls-Royce Boeing 747 flying test bed in the first quarter of 2007.
Following certification by the airworthiness authorities next summer, it will power the 787 Dreamliner’s first flight and will begin commercial operations with launch customer ANA (All Nippon Airways) in mid 2008.
More here:
http://www.rolls-royce.com/media/showPR.jsp?PR_ID=40302
With kerosene prices where they are - efficient engines and fuel-saving airframes like these are the future of commercial aviation. Nice going RR !