Top award for team behind revolutionary Rolls-Royce engine

The team behind Rolls-Royce’s revolutionary UltraFan jet engine have received a prestigious accolade for their major contribution to the advancement of aerospace engineering.

Developed at the engineering giant’s Civil Aerospace site in Derby, UltraFan is the world’s largest demonstrator aero engine, containing a suite of scalable new technologies that deliver greater fuel efficiency.

The demonstrator, which Rolls-Royce believes will contribute significantly to the aerospace industry’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, has also been successfully tested using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), derived primarily from waste-based feedstocks such as used cooking oils.

The team behind UltraFan has now been awarded a Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Team Gold Medal for their groundbreaking work in five critical development phases, showcasing Rolls-Royce’s commitment to innovation.

This includes the building of Testbed 80 at Derby, the largest and smartest indoor test facility globally, which was constructed to validate UltraFan with cutting-edge digital capabilities.

The society’s awards recognise and celebrate leaders, individuals and teams in aviation, aerospace and space for their significant contributions – from space innovation to supporting humanitarian aid and addressing social barriers through flight.

Simon Burr, Rolls-Royce’s group director of engineering, technology and safety, said: “This award is a proud moment for the entire UltraFan team and is a reflection for the ingenuity and dedication of our colleagues.

“UltraFan is more than an engineering achievement; it is a critical step toward decarbonising and shaping a more sustainable future for aviation.

“As the programme continues to gather pace, including the development of an UltraFan narrowbody demonstrator, this recognition from RAeS inspires us to continue to push the boundaries of innovation.”