A continuing and growing demand for Rolls-Royce BR700/710 turbofan engines, developed and manufactured near Berlin by Rolls-Royce Deutschland, is reported by Klaus Nettinger, who runs the British engine maker's German arm.

Two hundred and twenty engines will be delivered from the plant this year-an increase of 50 from 1999. Next year the output will grow to 240-250, The factory was designed to produce up to 300 powerplants a year.

In the commercial airline field the BR700/710 range has captured one-third of all recent 100-seater sales aboard the Boeing 717, with 21 aircraft now in service with four operators.

But the bigger market for the Anglo-German range is in the corporate aircraft field, where it powers the Gulfstream V and Bombardier Global Express. Nettinger said the Global Express, with his engines on board, has been performing "extremely well" since its entry into corporate service last year.

By Bob Rodwell