Rolls-Royce North America (Washington Dulles) has retired the sole B747-200B it operated as a testbed, the company confirmed to ch-aviation.
"After 20 years of playing a crucial role in many important moments in our story, we are retiring our iconic B747-200 Flying Test Bed," a Rolls-Royce spokesperson said in a statement.
The 45.4-year-old aircraft, N787RR (msn 21966), was active for the final time on July 1, flying between Colorado Springs and Tucson International, where it was based, on a mission supporting Rolls-Royce's Advanced Low Emissions Combustion System (ALECSys) engine demonstrator programme.
Originally a passenger aircraft, the widebody was delivered new to Cathay Pacific in 1980, operating as VR-HIA until 1997, when it was reregistered as B-HIA following the transfer of Hong Kong from British rule to China. In 1999, it joined the fleet of Air Atlanta Icelandic as TF-ATD, operating under wet-lease agreements for other carriers including AirAsia and Saudi Arabian Airlines, before being acquired by Rolls-Royce.
"Since 2005, this uniquely modified aircraft, currently featuring five engines, has been central to the development of next-generation engines like the Trent 1000 and Pearl 10X," the OEM said.
Officially named 'Spirit of Excellence' and nicknamed 'Hefty Bee', the aircraft was converted by L3Harris Technologies at Waco James Connall. The modification included extensive changes to the B747-200B's electrical and hydraulic systems, enabling it to simulate Boeing 787 flight characteristics and serve as a testbed for the Trent 1000 engine. More recently, it supported development of the Pearl 10X engine, designed to power the flagship ultra-long-range jet of Dassault Aviation, the Falcon 10X, expected to be certified by 2027.
The fate of N787RR remains "under discussion," according to the spokesperson. "We will continue to use a blend of flying testbeds and ground test facilities in the future."
In 2019, Rolls-Royce acquired a 1997-built B747-400 with the manufacturer serial number (msn) 25566, formerly operated by Qantas. The quadjet was registered as N747RR until 2023, but plans to convert it into a flying testbed to serve alongside the now phased-out B747-200B were shelved in 2022. The aircraft was reportedly scrapped at Moses Lake in October 2023.
Other major engine manufacturers continue to rely on the B747 as a flying testbed platform. General Electric operates a 31.4-year-old B747-400 based at Victorville, while Pratt & Whitney, a division of RTX Corporation, maintains two Canadian-registered B747SPs stationed at Montréal Mirabel and operated by Pratt & Whitney Canada. Meanwhile, Honeywell Aviation Services uses a B757-200 as an engine testbed.
Rolls-Royce's B747-200B is the only unit of the type on the United States civil register. The United States Air Force, however, continues to operate four B747-200(E-4B) 'Nightwatch' aircraft, a modified version acting as a command, control, and communications centre in the event of a national emergency, as well as two B747-200(VC-25A)s specially configured for presidential transport, operating under the callsign 'Air Force One' when the president is onboard.
Globally, ten B747-200s remain in active service. In Iran, IranAir operates a B747-200CM, Qeshm Fars Air a B747-200FSCD, and Saha Airlines a B747-200F. Kyrgyzstan's AeroStan flies two B747-200B(SF)s and a B747-200FSCD, while Moldova's Fly Pro operates a B747-200B(SF) and two B747-200FSCDs. Georgia-based Geosky Airlines flies a single B747-200B(SF).
