Rolls-Royce suspends A380 engine production

The Register ^ | October 6, 2006 | Lester Haines

[magellan]

Rolls-Royce has suspended production of its Trent 900 engine for a year in the wake of this week's announcement by Airbus parent company EADS that the A380 "Superjumbo" delivery schedule had been put back for a third time.

The Trent 900 is one of two engine models due to be bolted to the A380 - the other being the GE-P&W Engine Alliance GP7200

The implications for the workforce at the Derby plant which produces the Trent 900 are unknown. According to the BBC, Rolls-Royce said "it was too early to say what impact the decision to cut output would have on its employees".

The company added: "We are waiting for more details about requirements from Airbus. Once we are clear on that and any potential impact on future workload, we will consult with the unions."

Rolls-Royce did stress, however, that the Derby plant - which is home to 11,000 workers - also made engines for Boeing and Bombardier, and that the Trent 900 currently accounts for only a fraction of the firm's total sales, while all civil engine output "accounted for only about 20 per cent of the company's turnover".

The first Airbus A380 is now slated for delivery in October 2007. There have been mutterings of discontent among airlines waiting to get behind the controls of the behemoth, with hefty compensation claims likely over the now considerably delayed delivery schedule.

[trashcanbred]

I wonder if Mythbusters ever gave this one a shot...

[Fresh Wind]

Try this one!

[ASA Vet]

You'll end up like that Chevy that had a JATO unit and ended up making a
small crater in the wall of a cliff four miles down the road.

Must be true, I heard it on Paul Harvey.
But then Paul also said a Colt Python is so small it can be hidden in coins and slipped though airports securtiy.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I have read on other threads that the 797 story is a hoax?

[HEY4QDEMS]

I guess you're right.

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/b/b797.htm

[chiefqc]

It won't work either because of a design flaw.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

" No problem. Airbus will replace the Rolls Royce engines with giant rubber bands. " and that is the base model
The high performance model is with squirrels in cages.

[TommyDale]

Either the rubber band model or the high performance squirrel cage version would cause the tails or wings to snap off...

[Prophet in the wilderness]

t's the death rattle of Airbust..( Old Europe ) and its flying white elephant.

Socialism at its finest.

[Pukin Dog]

GE-90, baby.

There is no substitute.

[RightWhale]

The bullets for the 2" Colt Python cost $$$$ each, and have the power of a .25 or maybe a little less. Check with your jeweller if you want the reloading dies.

[jpsb]

747 required major airport upgrades too.

[PAR35]

I'd hate to see the manufacture of those wonderful engines in trouble.

It wouldn't be a first for them. Except last time it was Rolls Royce that had the problems, and the airframe manufacturer who suffered.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

AMEN....
I wonder if the military could use those if Boeing were to build Military 777s ?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

BTW ... GE is using the core architecture of the GE-90 for the GenX engines for the 787 and 747-8I.

[letsgonova19087]

Hahaha...but travel time increases somewhat as well...

[Jorge]

The implications of the A380 WhaleJet(TM) delays are cascading through their suppliers. This will further increase the costs of the program.

Yes, I read an article today that described the A380 problems as an "industrial disaster".

Boeing announced the first orders for it's new 747-8 passenger version today.....

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Phooi, certainly you mean le bands rubbeur.

[JayNorth]

Look on the bright side, mon ami. With no engines, the fuel economy improves substantially, n'est ce pas?

Mais oui, et aussi, without engines that whole "weight" issue may be eliminated. Two birds with one stone. Those French, masterful engineers!