Rolls-Royce Ultrafan

Gulf airlines continue to face heavy disruption, while U.S. carriers deal with a fuel cost surge and must compete against largely hedged European airlines.

Some 14 years after exiting the single-aisle engine market, Rolls-Royce is trying to get back into it, unveiling a new engine concept called the UltraFan 30—but can it break the CFM-Pratt duopoly?

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The new UltraFan demonstrator program is gearing up as Rolls advances plans to challenge CFM and Pratt & Whitney for the next-generation single-aisle market.

Rolls-Royce sees multiple partnership opportunities to bring to market a new narrowbody engine as the company gears up to ground test demonstrator hardware.

New details have emerged of the Rolls-Royce-led Ultra Novel and Innovative Fully Integrated Engine Demonstrations (Unified) UltraFan test program.

Rolls-Royce expects to have a position on a future narrowbody aircraft, CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç said as the engine-maker released first-half earnings.

UK extends aerospace backing; Elfly advances electric seaplane; Dutch back hydrogen-electric power; Aura and Vaeridion join forces.

Next-generation engine testing is ramping up as Airbus readies for scaled aircraft performance-level evaluations of its open-fan propulsion system.

The UK is extending its funding support for commercial aerospace R&D, providing £2.3 billion to 2035 through the Aerospace Technology Institute program.

The medium-thrust UltraFan design launch signals Rolls’ commitment to single-aisle market ventures as its large engine variant moves toward new tests.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Rolls-Royce aims by mid-year to freeze the design of a smaller UltraFan geared turbofan demonstrator, signaling its intent to target the single-aisle market.

MTU and Pratt & Whitney want a place on the next narrowbodies developed by Boeing and Airbus. The engine-makers now rule out an open fan.

Boeing’s new leadership in Commercial Airplanes and at the top are likely just the beginning of major changes at the manufacturing giant.

Continuing an annual tradition dating back to 1957, Aviation Week Network editors honored a wide variety of industry accomplishments.

For decades, aircraft manufacturers have preferred derivatives over all-new aircraft. That approach appears to be ending.

Two-thirds of Europe’s Clean Aviation research projects are focused on more sustainable advanced propulsion technologies for service entry in the mid-2030s.

Rolls says the UltraFan currently remains the only new engine architecture available for the future twin-aisle market.

With lower-than-expected time on wing at other airlines, Emirates decides against large order for the A350-1000 for now.

Commercial, military and advanced sustainability propulsion technology programs underpin ITP Aero growth plans following Rolls-Royce spin-off.

Clean Aviation structures a large part of the European effort toward future aeronautics, while research and technology are involved in early testing.

Propulsive efficiency gains could diminish for bigger turbofans unless nacelle drag can be reduced. Flight tests show promise from a short inlet design.

Build-up of the first module for the initial UltraFan engine demonstrator, UF001, has begun at Rolls-Royce’s Derby, England facility in preparation for tests starting in early 2022.

Rolls-Royce weathers COVID-19 supplier impacts to bring components together for first next-gen engine.