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Rolls-Royce RB211 engine

The Rolls Royce RB211 family is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by Rolls Royce capable of generating 37,000 to 60,600 pounds thrust.

Table of contents
1 General
2 RB211-22 series
3 RB211-524 series
4 RB211-535 series

General

It has a three-shaft layout resulting in a shorter and more rigid engine as compared to other engines of similiar thrust ratings. The RB211 family is also reknowned for its economy and legendary reliabilty. The family is divided in three distinct series

RB211-22 series

This is the first of the whole series which first saw service in 1972. It was specifically designed for Lockheed Tristar. Its thrust rating is 42,000 pounds. Being the pioneer three-shaft engine it underwent difficult gestation. However, it improved during service and matured into a reliable engine.

RB211-524 series

A development of the -22, it featured a very mature design. Its thrust rating is 50,000 to 60,600 pounds. It was first fitted into Boeing 747 in 1977. Its excellent service record led it to be fitted to the improved Lockheed Tristar in 1981.

An improved version, -524G (rated 58,000 pounds) and -524H (rated 60,600 pounds), featuring FADEC, was offered with Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 767. It is ETOPS 180-minutes rated for the 767. The -524G and H is the first to feature the wide-chord fan , which increases efficiency, reduces noise and gives added protection against foreign object damage. This was later adopted by GE and Pratt and Whitney for their engines.

Further improvements led to the -524G/H-T fitted to the 747-400 which is essentially remanufactured -524G and -524H fitted with the core turbomachinery of Rolls Royce Trent, benefitting Trent's improved performance.

RB211-535 series

This is essentially a scaled down version of the -524. Its thrust range spans from 37,000 to 43,100 pounds. It powers Boeing 757 and is 180-minute ETOPS rated. The later series shares common features with the later series -524 such as wide-chord fan and FADEC.