Rolls-Royce powers new Airbus BelugaXL transporter on first flight

Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines today powered Airbus's new BelugaXL air transporter on its first flight from Toulouse, France.

The aircraft is the first of five new aircraft that will replace the current Airbus Beluga fleet and features a distinctive whale-themed livery.

The BelugaXL is based on an Airbus A330 design and the Trent 700 has established itself as the clear engine of choice on this aircraft type, with 90 per cent market share over the last three years. More than 1,600 engines are in service today and the Trent 700 has been selected by 88 operators.

Adair Swan, Rolls-Royce, Trent 700 Programme Director, Civil Aerospace, said: "We are very proud to be powering the BelugaXL for Airbus. As well as being a plane-spotter's delight, aircraft like these have a very special role to play in bringing the aerospace supply chain to life. The Trent 700 engine is the perfect engine to support this critical process, with more than 50 million flying hours under its belt."

Rolls-Royce has drawn on its Trent 700 experience to help create the Trent 7000 engine which will power the Airbus A330neo aircraft into service later this year.

The Trent 7000, the seventh member of the Trent family, also incorporates architecture from the Trent 1000 TEN – the latest version of the Trent 1000 engine – and the latest technology from the Trent XWB, the world's most efficient large civil engine.