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Rolls-Royce Engine Marks 3 Million Flight Hours on C-130J Fleet

Dépèche transmise le 20 septembre 2011 par Business Wire

Rolls-Royce Engine Marks 3 Million Flight Hours on C-130J Fleet

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has completed three million engine flight hours of the AE 2100, which powers the C-130J. This milestone demonstrates the continued reliability, performance and durability which the AE 2100 offers the US Air Force and other customers. Rolls-Royce made the announcement at the annual Air Force Association Air & Space Conference, near Washington, DC.

Rolls-Royce has delivered 1,155 engines to Lockheed Martin for the C-130J since the AE 2100D3 model made its debut in 1996. The turboprop has enhanced the flight range, speed and payload of the four-engine C-130J. The engine features Dual Full Authority Digital Engine Control and has a power range from 3,600 to 4,700 shp.

The US Air Force has purchased 119 C-130Js to date.

Patricia O’Connell, Rolls-Royce, President, Customer Business Defence, stated: “Rolls-Royce focuses every day on meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers and we are proud that our hard work on the AE 2100D3 engine has delivered such strong results, with three million hours of flight time. The D3 model is part of the AE engine family, which has topped more than 48 million flight hours.”

Lorraine Martin, Vice President C-130 Programs, Lockheed Martin, stated: “Probably the most common feedback we get from the operator community is that the C-130J has the power to do what it needs to do - the power to get onto austere runways in far away combat zones, and the power to get out of harm’s way quickly. That power comes from Rolls-Royce engines.”

C-130Js are engaged in operations in multiple combat theaters and are routinely deployed in support of both peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. The C-130J is a proven airlifter that has been selected by 15 nations, with 233 aircraft delivered to date. The C-130J is a flexible, multimission aircraft that has been manufactured in multiple configurations to meet a wide range of operational needs.

When the AE 2100D3 made its debut 15 years ago, it marked a new era for Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce. Previous versions of the C-130 were powered by the Rolls-Royce T56, the world’s most ubiquitous and proven turboprop. The USAF has more than 300 earlier models of the T56-powered aircraft in its fleet.

Notes to Editors:

1. Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.

2. As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,500 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.

3. Annual underlying revenues were £10.8 billion in 2010, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at £61.4 billion at 30 June 2011, providing visibility of future levels of activity.

4. Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are engineers.

5. In 2010, Rolls-Royce invested £923 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.

6. Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.

7. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.