Trent 500

Trent 500 is the sole engine for the increased range A340-500/600

Product details

Trent 500 is the sole engine for the increased range A340-500/600
Entry into service in August 2002 with Virgin Atlantic
22 customers have ordered over 150 aircraft
Significant engine commonality with Trent family
Core engine scaled from Trent 800; fan size as Trent 700
Cleared to thrust level above A340 initial requirements giving growth capability
High bypass ratio for excellent fuel economy
Low noise and emissions
Unparalleled service experience with operation of 6 million engine flying hours

Fact sheet

With an initial take-off thrust of 56,000 lb, the Trent 500 provides reliable and economic power for this generation of A340 aircraft. The Trent 500 has been certificated at 60,000 lb, which provides excellent in-service margins, leading to longer time on wing.

With its design derived from the reliable RB211 family of three-shaft engines, the Trent's advanced layout provides lighter weight and better payload/range and revenue-earning potential than its competitors. Its diffusion bonded/superplastically formed (DB/SPF) wide-chord fan protects the engine against foreign object damage while latest-generation single crystal high-pressure turbine blades help to ensure that engines have the best on-wing life in the airline industry. The combustor produces the lowest flight pollution levels and the engines are designed for low noise, making them kinder to the environment.

The three shaft design of the Trent family makes it possible to scale each individual compressor or turbine independently of the other engine modules to ensure the optimum component performance.

The Trent 500 features a Trent 700 sized 97.4 inch diameter wide-chord fan together with a core scaled down from the Trent 800. This combination of existing fan size and a scaled core yields an engine with much higher bypass ratio than other engines currently in this thrust class giving significant improvements in fuel efficiency and lower noise. These are essential attributes for an engine designed for a long-range four-engined aircraft.

Taking the Trent 800 as its guide, the Trent 500 development programme performed the more intensive testing required for early ETOPS clearance as it gives the best foundation for reliability right from EIS.