[esseeayen]

Interesting, I watched a similar documentary from the GE side and I was under the impression that both companies were making composite fan blades. I guess that may just be GE while RR makes the hollow titanium blades (which are pretty amazing).

[pcurve]

GE does make composite fan blades, but not for A380 engines.

GE supplies engine to A380 through joint venture with Pratt and Whitney. That engine is GP7000 and it also uses hollow titanium blades, just like Trent.

[esseeayen]

Was that because the technology wasn't there yet or because titanium ones are in ways superior to composites?

Also I was curious why they didn't user any advanced ceramics in the turbine considering the temperatures involved, instead they used metal with cooling holes (and underlying heat sink structures).