Rolls-Royce Trent XWB takes to the skies

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine has taken to the skies for the first time, powering an Airbus A380 test aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew with one of its four Trent 900 engines replaced by a Trent XWB.

The Trent XWB is the most advanced civil aircraft engine on offer in the world and will power the new Airbus A350 XWB.

The Trent XWB is the fastest-selling Trent engine ever, with more than 1,100 already sold. At the 2011 Paris Airshow Rolls-Royce also announced that it will be the exclusive engine supplier for the longer range A350-1000 aircraft.

The Trent XWB is 16 per cent more efficient than the first-generation Trent engines that entered into service in 1995.