Rolls-Royce, INDIANAPOLIS: Rolls-Royce, the world-leading provider of power systems and services, has topped one million hours of service with its AE 2100 military turboprop engine, a new milestone for one of the world's most famous aircraft — the C-130 Hercules military transport.
Dennis Jarvi, President Defense North America for Rolls-Royce, said: “The AE 2100 engine is a proven winner, part of a wide-ranging and highly successful line of Rolls-Royce powerplants. The engine has built on the remarkable record of the T56, its predecessor on the C130, maintaining the Rolls-Royce position as the world-leader in engines for military transport aircraft.”
AE 2100-D3 engines power C-130J Hercules aircraft in use by the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard; plus, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Italian Air Force and the Royal Danish Air Force.
The million-hour service mark is a significant milestone for the engines and the aircraft — the world's first responder.
The C-130 has been the U.S. Air Force's primary tactical transport and special mission aircraft since 1956, powered by Rolls-Royce T56 engines. The “J” version of the aircraft, powered by AE 2100-D3 engines, continue that legacy.
A similar version of the engine, the AE 2100-D2, powers the C-27J Spartan aircraft in use by the Hellenic Air Force and being delivered to the Italian and Bulgarian air forces. The C-27J is also a candidate for the Joint Cargo Aircraft program for the U.S. Army and Air Force.
AE 2100 engines are part of the Rolls-Royce AE “common core” engine line. Along with the AE 3007 and AE 1107C-Liberty, the proven engine line has totaled more than 21 million hours of service.
Background Information and Notes:
1. The AE 2100-D3 is a lightweight, modular turboprop engine with 4,600 shaft-horsepower. The “common core” AE engine line is produced by Rolls-Royce and manufactured in Indianapolis, IN.
2. AE 3007 engines provide power for Global Hawk and several corporate and regional aircraft, such as Embraer 135 and 145, and Cessna Citation. AE 1107C-Liberty engines power the V-22 Osprey aircraft, military tiltrotors that take off like helicopters and fly like airplanes. AE 1107C-Liberty engines have also been proposed for CH-53K helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps.
3. Rolls-Royce recently announced services contracts to support AE 2100 engines on C-130J aircraft in use by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, as well as Britain's RAF and Royal Danish Air Force.
Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising nearly 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces and more than 2,000 marine customers, including 70 navies. The company has energy customers in nearly 120 countries. Rolls-Royce employs around 36,000 people, of which 22,000 are in the UK. Forty percent of its employees are based outside the UK — including nearly 5,000 in the rest of Europe and nearly 8,000 in North America.
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