Rolls-Royce RB211-524 on the Boeing 747
The Rolls-Royce RB211-524, premium by its three-shaft design, entered 747 service with British Airways in 1977, ran on -200s, -200Bs, SPs and -300s, and returned as the -524G/H — the first FADEC RB211s — on the 747-400 and -400ER.
Rolls-Royce’s RB211-524 brought the three-shaft gas generator to the 747, delivering smooth, efficient power and a distinctive high-pitched note that became part of the classic 747 sound.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Applications | 747-200, -200B, -200F, 747SP, -300 (-524B/C/D4); 747-400 and -400ER (-524G/-524H only) |
| Thrust classes | B2 49,120 lbf; C2 50,600 lbf; D4 53,000 lbf; G 58,000 lbf; H 60,600 lbf |
| Bypass / fan | 5.0:1 (B/C/D4), 4.3:1 (G/H); 86.3 in fan |
| First customer | British Airways — ordered June 1975, entered service June 1977 on a 747-200B |
British Airways ordered the RB211-524 for its 747-200Bs in June 1975 and introduced it in service in June 1977. Qantas then had Boeing adopt the higher-thrust -524D4 on its 747-238Bs from 1979, and SAA, Cathay Pacific and others followed on -200s and -300s.
The -524 was never fitted to the 747-100 or the 747-8. Its final 747 application was the -524G (58,000 lbf) and -524H (60,600 lbf) — the first FADEC-equipped RB211s — which entered service with the 747-400’s FAA certification in January 1989. The heavier H/T version served the 747-400ER.
Later hybrid -524G/H builds paired the RB211 core work with technology from the Trent family, extending the engine’s life right up to the end of 747 passenger operations.
Sources
- Rolls-Royce RB211 article — Wikipedia
- 747-400 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning — Boeing
- Boeing 747-200 on sdk.aero — Aeropedia
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the primary and institutional references below.
- Rolls-Royce RB211 article — Wikipedia
- 747-400 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning — Boeing
- Boeing 747-200 on sdk.aero — Aeropedia
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