Ruslan International has transported Rolls-Royce’s new Trent XWB-97 engine from East Midlands Airport to the Airbus testing facility in Toulouse.
The engine is the highest-thrust production engine the manufacturer has ever made from the UK to South West France, where it will undergo extensive testing.
Ruslan used an Antonov AN-124 heavylift aircraft, which was needed task given the sheer size and scale of the load.
The company says the job was urgent due to the tight production schedules involved and the need to transport the engine over road from Toulouse Airport to Airbus during restricted times. This it says added a layer of complexity to the operation.
The Trent XWB-97 engine being transported is the first of its kind that will actually take flight, on an Airbus A380 flying test bed.
Ruslan key account manager, Paul Bingley, says: “It is a privilege to be carrying a load which has such significance for Rolls-Royce, and we are thrilled that Ruslan International could play a role.”
