BR725 engine star of show as Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Rolls-Royce at Berlin Airshow 2008

The newest Rolls-Royce aero engine, the BR725, was the key exhibit when Chancellor of Germany, Dr Angela Merkel, today visited the company’s stand (Hall 8, Booth 8302) on the opening day of Berlin Airshow ILA2008.

Rolls-Royce is the world’s leading engine supplier for business jets and the BR725 is the centrepiece of its presence at the show. The first run of the BR725 was completed successfully at the nearby Rolls-Royce facility in Dahlewitz, just one month ago. The first aircraft to be powered by this engine, the Gulfstream G650, is due to enter service in 2012.

Dr Merkel was accompanied by Arakkaparambil Kurian Antony, Defence Minister of the Republic of India; Michael Glos, Federal Minister of Economics and Technology; Matthias Platzeck, Prime Minister of Brandenburg; Harald Wolf, Senator of Economics Berlin; Jürgen Thumann, President BDI; Dr Thomas Enders, President BDLI and CEO Airbus; Raimund Hosch, Chairman Messe Berlin.

Dr. Michael Haidinger, President Rolls-Royce Deutschland and COO Corporate & Regional Engines Rolls-Royce, said: “We are delighted to be able to present our new BR725, a business jet engine that is unrivalled in its outstanding levels of power, efficiency and environmental performance.

“This engine opens a new chapter in the success story of the market-leading BR700 family and also means value-adding growth for Rolls-Royce Deutschland. It proves, once again, that the sustainable investment by Rolls-Royce in its German sites and in the development of eco-friendly engine technology is more than paying off.“

The launch of the BR725 demonstrates the continuing commitment of Rolls-Royce to deliver technological advances into the marketplace. This addition to the company’s broad product portfolio is the sixth new powerplant brought to the civil aerospace sector within the past six years.