Rolls-Royce RB211

RB211
RB211 at the Technik Museum Speyer with no front cowls
Type	Turbofan
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Rolls-Royce
First run	1969
Major applications	Boeing 747 Boeing 757 Boeing 767 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Tupolev Tu-204
Produced	1969–2000s
Developed into	Rolls-Royce Trent

The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a British family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce. The engines are capable of generating 41,030 to 59,450 lbf (182.5 to 264.4 kN) of thrust. The RB211 engine was the first production three-spool engine and turned Rolls-Royce from a significant player in the aero-engine industry into a global leader.

Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, it entered service in 1972 and was the exclusive engine to power the L-1011. Mismanagement of the initial development and consequent cost issues led to the effective nationalisation of Rolls-Royce Limited, to save the workforce and the engine businesses important to the UK and many other aerospace and aircraft operating companies.

In the early 1970s, the engine was reckoned by the company to be capable of at least 50 years of continuous development.^[1][2] The RB.211 was renamed, in 1989, to become the basis of the Rolls-Royce Trent family of engines when the RB211-524L was renamed to the Trent.^[3]