Rolls-Royce and Mississippi celebrate a decade of Aerospace Innovation at the Rolls-Royce Outdoor Je
(NASA John C. Stennis Space Center, Miss.) -- On Oct. 27, 2017, Rolls-Royce marked a decade of operations and growth at its Outdoor Jet Engine Test Facility located at the NASA John C. Stennis Space Center in Southern Mississippi. A 10-year anniversary celebration took place last Friday, where Rolls-Royce employees welcomed visits by several federal, state and local officials.
Operations began here in 2007, and expanded in 2013, with a total investment to date of nearly $100 million and nearly 50 employees. This facility is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and conducts development engine testing, noise, crosswind, endurance and other tests on our latest, most sophisticated large civil aircraft engines – including the Trent 1000, Trent XWB, and others. These engines power modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB. In fact, since opening, the company has tested nine engine variants and logged over 7000 hours on the stands.
“This is an important site for us – our people here are doing very important work to help ensure the reliability of new and innovative jet engines that Rolls-Royce brings to market,” said Marion Blakey, President and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America. “We’ve long enjoyed a great relationship with the people of Mississippi and this anniversary builds upon that partnership.”
“Our Stennis test site represents the type of state-of-the-art investments that Rolls-Royce is making around the world to validate the next generation of technology in our engines. With the number of new engines coming to market, our Stennis facility has been working around the clock to help us keep up with this demand,” said Gareth Hedicker, Head of Development and Experimental Engineering, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace. “The end game is to continue to improve fuel efficiency and power, while reducing emissions and noise.”
The NASA John C. Stennis Space Center is home to more than 40 resident agencies, which includes federal, state, academic and private organizations and numerous technology-based companies. Rolls-Royce continues to work with state and local officials to further strengthen Mississippi’s aerospace industry.
“Stennis Space Center is home to some of the world’s most advanced rocket and jet engine technologies,” U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss) said. “And for the past decade, the Rolls-Royce team has helped lead the way in advancing Mississippi’s reputation as a leader in aerospace development. The company’s investments in Hancock County have also translated into good-paying, high-tech jobs for many Mississippians. I look forward to strengthening and expanding this partnership even more in the years to come.”
“For over ten years, we have been proud to call Rolls-Royce a member of our Hancock County community. Their commitment is shown through the creation of jobs and dedication to their employees that call Hancock County home,” said Bill Cork, CEO of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission.
Other Rolls-Royce operations in Mississippi
Rolls-Royce also operates a foundry and propeller machining facility in Pascagoula that manufactures propellers for all U.S. Navy ships, ranging in size from aircraft carriers to the modern DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class combat destroyer. It is the only private foundry and only one of two foundries in the U.S. qualified to cast and machine propellers for U.S. Navy surface fleet.
In addition, Rolls-Royce manufactures and services the F405 engines that power the U.S. Navy’s T-45 Goshawk training aircraft flying out of Naval Air Station Meridian in Lauderdale County, MS. Through a combination of engineering support and skilled personnel, Rolls-Royce maintains a high level of engine availability to ensure Navy and Marine Corps pilots have aircraft ready to fly.
