A view of the rear of a Rolls-Royce RB211-524B turbofan. This engine was released in 1978 to power the new Lockheed L1011 TriStar 500. It was designed with increased fuel efficiency and low noise in mind. It produced a huge, for the time, 53,000 pounds (235 kN) of thrust to allow the TriStar a maximum take-off weight of 496,000 pounds (225,000 kg). The Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine for the new Airbus A380 produces 70,000 pounds of thrust (311kN) by comparison. A complete redsign of the RB211 engine had to be undertaken during the late sixties, thus delaying the TriStar programme and almost causing the bankruptcy of Rolls-Royce. They made a comeback with the 211 engine from which the next generation of high-bypass-ratio fan engines evolved. High-bypass-ratio engines develop most of the engine-thrust by the air moved around the main engine core by the large fans. This contrasts with older jet engines where most of the engine thrust was developed by air passing through the core and not around it.

Just like vintage racing-car engines from premier manufacturers, the Rolls had a special sound. One could recognise a TriStar just from the sound of its engines. The TriStar was also known in the aerospace community as the "Whisperliner".