By Staff Correspondent
Rolls-Royce has commenced the flight test campaign for its newest aero engine, the Pearl 10X, designed for the business aviation industry. The tests are being conducted on the company’s specialized Boeing 747 flying testbed. Dassault, the French aircraft maker, has chosen the engine to be the only power source for its latest flagship aircraft, the Falcon 10X.
The commencement of flight testing is a significant achievement for the Pearl 10X program and for Rolls-Royce as it concentrates on expanding its presence in the business aviation sector, as stated during last year’s Capital Markets Day. The Pearl 10X is the latest addition to the advanced Pearl engine series and the inaugural Rolls Royce engine to be utilized in a Dassault business jet. Rolls-Royce’s position as the top engine producer in business aviation is reinforced by the French aircraft maker’s choice of the Pearl 10X for its new flagship offering.
Pilots and flight test engineers will rigorously test the engine in Tucson, Arizona, USA, in the upcoming months. The flight test program will encompass evaluations of engine performance and handling characteristics at different velocities and altitudes, in-flight restarts, assessments of the nacelle’s anti-icing system, and examinations of fan vibration at various altitudes.
The new auxiliary gearbox, which enables greater additional power extraction, and the ultra-low emissions ALM combustor, which is compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), have undergone extensive testing as part of the ground-based development program so far. The engine, which exceeded its intended thrust levels during its initial test run, will become the most potent engine for business aviation in the Rolls-Royce collection.
Philipp Zeller, the Senior Vice President of Dassault Business Aviation at Rolls Royce, expressed enthusiasm about commencing the flight test campaign, which marks a significant milestone in the engine development project. The engine’s dependability has been confirmed by all the tests conducted thus far, demonstrating its potential to satisfy the performance criteria for powering Dassault’s flagship aircraft, the Falcon 10X.
With over 2,300 testing hours successfully completed on the Pearl 10X engine configuration as well as the Advance 2 demonstration, the program is moving forward at a rapid pace.
The Pearl 10X incorporates the Advance2 engine core, which is the most efficient core in the business aviation industry. It combines this core with a high-performance low-pressure system, resulting in a thrust that exceeds 18,000lbf. The Pearl 10X engine demonstrates a 5% increase in efficiency compared to the previous generation of Rolls-Royce commercial aviation engines. Additionally, it excels at minimizing noise and pollution. The outcome is an engine that provides a superior mix of power and efficiency, surpassing competitors on the market. This combination will provide consumers and operators with high-quality airport access and the ability to fly great distances, while also allowing them to travel at near-supersonic speeds.
