Rolls-Royce to Airbus with no time to lose

Ruslan International has completed a milestone cross-channel flight for Rolls-Royce, transporting a new Trent XWB-97 engine from the UK’s East Midlands airport to the Airbus testing facility in Toulouse, France.
The aeromanufacturer’s highest ever thrust production engine will undergo extensive testing at the Airbus workshops.
Heavy air cargo specialist Ruslan International used a AN-124 heavylift aircraft, one of a fleet of 17, for the flight.
Tight production schedules and the need to transport the engine by road from Toulouse airport to Airbus during restricted times added a layer of complexity to the operation.
Paul Bingley, key account manager at Ruslan International, said: “Ruslan International has worked consistently with Rolls-Royce since the company’s inception in 2006, and this flight marks the next exciting step in our relationship.”
Tim Boddy, head of marketing for the Trent XWB at Rolls-Royce, said: “We have worked closely with Ruslan International over the last several years, primarily on the Trent XWB engine project. They have always managed to undertake projects for us faultlessly, and we were delighted to be able to partner with them again on this flagship project.”