Rolls-Royce has begun the flight test campaign for its latest aero engine, the Pearl 10X, on its Boeing 747 flying testbed. The engine has been exclusively selected by Dassault, a French aircraft manufacturer, to power its new flagship aircraft, the Falcon 10X.
The commencement of flight testing marks an important milestone for both the Pearl 10X programme and Rolls-Royce, as they focus on expanding their presence in the business aviation market, as previously outlined during last year's Capital Markets Day. The Pearl 10X is the latest addition to the innovative Pearl engine family, and it is also the first Rolls-Royce engine ever to power a Dassault business jet. Dassault's decision to choose the Pearl 10X for its new flagship product is further proof of Rolls-Royce's leading position as an engine manufacturer in the business aviation sector.
A team of pilots and flight test engineers will conduct a series of tests on the engine in the upcoming months. The flight test program will cover engine performance and handling checks at different speeds and altitudes, inflight relights, examination of the nacelle's anti-icing system, and fan vibration tests at various altitudes.
The development program on the ground has undergone rigorous testing of the new ultra-low emissions ALM combustor, which is compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and the new accessory gearbox, which facilitates higher additional power extraction. The engine surpassed its target thrust levels on the first test run, making it the most powerful business aviation engine in the Rolls-Royce portfolio.
Philipp Zeller, Senior Vice President Dassault, Business Aviation, Rolls-Royce remarked, "We are excited to enter into this important next phase of the engine development programme with the start of our flight test campaign. All the tests completed to date confirm the reliability of the engine and show it will meet the performance requirements to power Dassault’s flagship, the Falcon 10X.”
The Pearl 10X is a business aviation engine that boasts the Advance2 engine core, which is the most efficient core available in the sector. It also features a high-performance low-pressure system that provides a superior thrust of over 18,000lbf. Compared to the previous generation of Rolls-Royce business aviation engines, the Pearl 10X offers a 5% higher efficiency, while maintaining excellent low noise and emissions performance. This results in a market-leading engine that delivers both power and efficiency. With the Pearl 10X, customers and operators will enjoy premium airport accessibility and ultra-long-range connections while being able to travel close to the speed of sound.
