Plan: Modify 747-400 To Test Engines

L-3 Communications says its Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) subsidiary has been selected by Rolls-Royce for a contract valued at approximately $20 million. The job: develop a flying test bed for risk-reduction flight testing of the Trent 1000 engine, which Rolls-Royce has developed for the new Boeing 7E7 aircraft.

This program requires the modification of a Boeing 747-200 aircraft to include a pylon strut adaptor to interface with the Trent 1000 engine. L-3 IS will be responsible for the aircraft modification, maintenance, logistics support and flight crews for the duration of the engine test program.

"As an industry leader in aircraft modification and modernization, this contract is of great strategic interest to L-3 Communications as it provides another opportunity to demonstrate our excellence in flight sciences and aerospace engineering," said Bob Drewes, president of L-3 IS.

The announcement by Rolls-Royce represents the completion of a commercially competitive program that has focused on providing the best overall value to the customer. The engineering phase of the program will begin immediately, with the aircraft arriving at the L-3 IS Waco, Texas facility in the first quarter of 2005. The program will draw heavily on engineering, production and flight test experience from other major 747 aircraft modification programs being accomplished at the Waco facility.

The Trent 1000 is the lead engine on the Boeing 7E7 program, having been selected by launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) to power its fleet of 50 Dreamliners. The engine has also been chosen by Air New Zealand, the only other Boeing 7E7 customer to make a selection. Development testing of the Trent 1000 will start in Spring 2006, leading to certification by the airworthiness authorities in 2007. It will enter service with ANA in 2008.

FMI: www.L-3Com.com