Rolls-Royce Retires Iconic Boeing 747-200 Test Plane After 45 Years of Service

After an extraordinary 45-year career Rolls-Royce has officially retired its legendary Boeing 747-200 Flying Test Bed, registered N787RR and affectionately nicknamed “Hefty Bee.”

Delivered in 1980 to Cathay Pacific as VR-HIA, the aircraft now finds its final resting place at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona, a fitting tribute to one of aviation’s most versatile and impactful platforms.

Originally configured for long-haul passenger service, the aircraft transitioned through several operators including Air Atlanta Icelandic before being acquired by Rolls-Royce in 2005. It was then extensively modified by L-3 Communications (now L3Harris) to serve as a Flying Test Bed (FTB), a role that transformed the airframe into a high-altitude laboratory for engine innovation.

The aircraft’s most distinctive feature was its five-engine configuration: four standard RB211 engines and a fifth test engine mounted on a specially reinforced pylon. This setup allowed engineers to evaluate new powerplants under real-world flight conditions while maintaining full propulsion redundancy. Inside, the cabin was stripped of passenger fittings and outfitted with advanced instrumentation for data acquisition, vibration analysis, and performance monitoring.

Over two decades, N787RR played a pivotal role in validating next-generation propulsion systems. Its first major assignment was testing the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, developed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Despite an initial plan for just 25 flights and 150 hours, the aircraft ultimately logged over 250 flights and 800 hours underscoring its reliability and importance to the program.

The aircraft also supported development of the Pearl 10X engine, designed for Dassault’s Falcon 10X business jet. In 2024, N787RR completed a series of high-altitude trials to validate fan vibration monitoring and in-flight relight capabilities.

Perhaps most notably, “Hefty Bee” became a symbol of sustainable aviation progress. In 2021, it made history by flying a Trent 1000 engine powered entirely by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), demonstrating the viability of alternative fuels in commercial aviation A. The aircraft repeated similar SAF trials in 2024 with the Pearl 10X, reinforcing Rolls-Royce’s commitment to decarbonizing flight.

Now preserved at the Pima Air & Space Museum, the aircraft stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity and the enduring legacy of the Boeing 747 platform.