The Rolls-Royce RB211 first ran in 1969.
The RB211 was developed for the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar and became one of the most important high-bypass turbofan programmes in aviation history. Its three-shaft architecture separated the low-, intermediate-, and high-pressure compressor and turbine systems, allowing each section to operate at a suitable speed.
The engine’s development was technically ambitious and financially difficult. Rolls-Royce entered receivership in 1971, and the British government nationalized the company’s aero-engine business. Lockheed and Rolls-Royce continued the programme, and the RB211 eventually entered airline service on the L-1011 in 1972.
The first run in 1969 is different from certification, flight testing, or airline service. Those later milestones are sometimes incorrectly given as the engine’s introduction date. The RB211 also became the foundation for later Rolls-Royce commercial engines, including the successful Trent family.