Rolls-Royce: The future of flight is electric

Rolls-Royce is looking to an electric future, as its CE, Warren East, positions the company at the forefront of the next revolution in aviation: aircraft powered by fans. East, setting out his plans to return the company to profit after one of the most troubled periods in its history, said Rolls needed to be reshaped so that it could help to lead a number of big technological changes, including one of the most ground-breaking of all, electrically powered aircraft. The idea of jet engines one day being replaced by electric propulsion has long been dismissed because of the limited distance that existing designs are able to travel. However, East has signalled that Rolls was now taking the concept seriously, and not just for small planes. <br/>