Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 'Package B' set for first flight aboard 787 (Update1)

Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 'Package B' set for first flight aboard 787 (Update1): "

Apologies for the lack of content here the past two weeks, I've been mostly 'heads down' working on features for our Paris air show issue.

ZA004 will return to flying Friday with the first Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 'Package B' engine hung under its right wing, marking the beginning of tests on the updated powerplant meant to deliver specific fuel consumption (SFC) rates within 1% of initial specification.

The fourth 787 test aircraft had been down for maintenance since April 27 installing the engine and its extensive instrumentation. The left-hand engine is expected to be installed on ZA004 later this month, say program sources.

The Package B engine includes a revised six-stage low pressure turbine (LPT) design, high-aspect-ratio blades, relocation of the intermediate-pressure (IP) compressor bleed offtake ports and a fan outlet guide vanes with improved aerodynamics.

Additionally, it is believed that the Package B engine also incorporates undisclosed hardware changes that were prompted following the August 2010 uncontained failure of a Package A model Trent 1000 at the Rolls-Royce test stand in Derby, UK.

Update 7:44 PM ET: It appears the flight plan has been withdrawn from Flightaware.com, scrubbing Friday's Package B engine first flight.

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