With the first version of the Trent XWB engine for the Airbus A350 poised for the start of test flights, Rolls-Royce is already stepping up studies of what conies next in its big-engine lineup. One key question is whether the recent birth of the new Rolls-Royce midsize engine joint venture with Pratt & Whitney will increase the chances of geared turbofan (GTF) technology spreading to the next generation of higher-thrust turbofans beyond the Trent XWB. For now it seems unlikely, mainly because Rolls believes its existing three-shaft architecture provides multiple jumping-off technology options for improving both thermal and propulsive efficiency.
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