Rolls-Royce has announced that its Pearl 10X engine development program is making good progress through its test program. The company said the program is advancing at pace and has successfully accumulated more than 1,500 testing hours, both on the Advance2 demonstrator and the Pearl 10X engine configuration.
The Pearl 10X is the newest member of the state-of-the-art Pearl engine family and the first Rolls-Royce engine ever to power Dassault’s flagship Falcon 10X business jet.
The engine is described as the most powerful business aviation engine in the whole Rolls-Royce portfolio. The Pearl 10X features the Advance2 engine core, the most efficient core available across the business aviation sector, and combines it with a high-performance low-pressure system. Capable of developing a superior thrust of more than 18,000lb, the Pearl 10X should allow the Falcon to travel nearly as fast as the speed of sound at Mach 0.925.
Compared to the last generation of Rolls-Royce business aviation engines, the Pearl 10X offers a 5% higher efficiency while delivering outstanding low noise and emissions performance. The resulting engine offers a market-leading combination of power and efficiency, which will enable customers and operators to have premium airport accessibility and fly ultra-long-range connections.
The engine brings together innovative technologies and proven Pearl family features to deliver world-class environmental performance. This includes a highly efficient blisked fan; a high-pressure compressor; an ultra-low emissions combustor; a two-stage shroudless high-pressure turbine, and an enhanced four-stage low-pressure turbine that is one of the most efficient and compact in the industry. This suite of technologies is housed within a brand new, ultra-slimline nacelle from Spirit AeroSystems.
So far, the development program has included the rigorous testing of the new ultra-low emissions ALM combustor, which is compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and the new accessory gearbox that allows for higher additional power extraction.
The team is now preparing for the start of the flight test campaign on Rolls-Royce’s dedicated Boeing 747 flying testbed in Tucson, Arizona, USA, which will start later this year.
Meanwhile, the company is moving along with the build of its new 2,000 sqm production support facility in Le Haillan, France. The site will play an important role in supporting the flight test and production activities for Dassault’s Falcon 10X.
