250346 - THE HISTORY OF THE ROLLS-ROYCE RB211 TURBOFAN ENGINE

By Philip C Ruffles  (Rolls Royce Historical Series No 47)

This is the definitive history of the RB211 turbofan engine.  It is a record of the hard journey taken by Rolls-Royce to revolutionise gas turbine technology by introducing the three-shaft turbofan offering a quantum leap in materials technology, fuel efficiency and previously unknown quietness of operation.  Spiralling costs pushed the Company into receivership and government control in 1971, but the engine still entered airline service the following year.  From that point the RB211 went from strength to strength, its DNA resulting in today’s world beating Trent family of engines.