This year, Rolls-Royce will begin testing the UltraFan prototype

This year, Rolls-Royce (OTC:RYCEY) will begin testing a prototype of its UltraFan engine, the largest turbofan in the world, which is up to 25 percent more efficient than its first-generation Trent engines.

UltraFan chief engineer Andrew Geer told reporters at Rolls' headquarters in Derby, central England, before the beginning of the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday that the demonstrator's fan had a diameter of 370 cm, the maximum size achievable for widebody aircraft.

He remarked that the technology may be scaled down for other applications, such as the return of the British aerospace industry to the market for narrowbody aircraft.

UltraFan will be "frozen" until testing is complete, with no more investment until Boeing (NYSE:BA) or Airbus launch a new aircraft program, UltraFan CEO Warren East told the Financial Times last year.

Geer noted that UltraFan was not a single engine, but rather a platform for several technologies, and that many of its innovations could be implemented into Rolls' existing programs.

It contains carbon titanium fan blades instead of the hollow titanium blades of prior Trents and a 64 megawatt power gearbox, which is a record.

He claimed that the first test flight will also use 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel from Air BP (NYSE:BP), which is derived from vegetable oils rather than fossil fuels.

Chris Cholerton, president of civil aerospace, remarked, "The suite of technologies we are testing aboard the demonstrator will introduce new capabilities for future propulsion systems and provide opportunities to enhance our current fleet."

In addition to improving the performance of gas turbines, Rolls is also exploring hydrogen and hybrid electric technologies to power commuter and regional aircraft.

Beginning in the middle of the 2030s, the company intends to perform rig and engine tests to demonstrate that hydrogen can safely and effectively power small to medium-sized aircraft.

Liquid hydrogen will be utilized to power an AE2100 engine for the first time this year, according to the business, and a test of a Pearl 15 engine will follow at an unspecified date.