Rolls-Royce Achieves Milestone in Pearl 10X Engine Testing for Falcon 10X

Rolls-Royce Achieves Milestone in Pearl 10X Engine Testing for Falcon 10X

(IN BRIEF) Rolls-Royce has made significant progress in the development of its Pearl 10X engine, designed to power Dassault’s Falcon 10X business jet. With over 1,500 testing hours completed, the engine has demonstrated its reliability and ability to meet performance requirements. The next phase will involve flight tests on a Boeing 747 flying testbed. The Pearl 10X engine combines advanced technologies for efficiency and environmental performance, including an ultra-low emissions combustor and a high-pressure compressor. Rolls-Royce is also constructing a production support facility near Dassault’s assembly line in France.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 23-May-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Rolls-Royce (LSE:RR., ADR:RYCEY), the pre-eminent engineering company with focus on world-class power and propulsion systems, announces significant progress in its Pearl 10X engine development program at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.

With over 1,500 testing hours successfully completed on the Advance 2 demonstrator and the Pearl 10X engine configuration, the program is rapidly advancing. The next phase will involve flight tests on Rolls-Royce’s dedicated Boeing 747 flying testbed in Tucson, Arizona, USA, scheduled to commence later this year.

The Pearl 10X engine is the latest addition to the state-of-the-art Pearl engine family and marks Rolls-Royce’s first engine to power a Dassault business jet. The selection of the Pearl 10X by the renowned French aircraft manufacturer for its new flagship model, the Falcon 10X, reaffirms Rolls-Royce’s position as the preferred engine manufacturer in the business aviation sector.

Comprehensive testing completed thus far has confirmed the engine’s reliability and its ability to meet the performance requirements of the Falcon 10X.

Key achievements of the development program include rigorous testing of the ultra-low emissions ALM combustor, designed to be compatible with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), as well as the new accessory gearbox, enabling higher additional power extraction. The engine has surpassed its target thrust levels from its initial test run, establishing itself as the most powerful business aviation engine in the Rolls-Royce portfolio. Earlier this year, the full powerplant, including the bespoke Spirit nacelle, engine build-up (EBU), and mount system, successfully underwent its first run.

The Pearl 10X combines the highly efficient Advance2 engine core, renowned across the business aviation sector, with a high-performance low-pressure system, resulting in exceptional thrust exceeding 18,000lbf. Offering a 5% increase in efficiency compared to the previous generation of Rolls-Royce business aviation engines, the Pearl 10X delivers outstanding low noise and emissions performance. The engine represents a market-leading combination of power and efficiency, granting customers and operators premium airport accessibility, ultra-long-range connections, and near-supersonic speeds.

The engine integrates innovative technologies derived from the Rolls-Royce Advance2 demonstrator program, as well as proven features from the Pearl family, to deliver world-class environmental performance. Notable features include a highly efficient blisked fan, a high-pressure compressor with a market-leading pressure ratio and six blisked stages, an ultra-low emissions combustor, a two-stage shroudless high-pressure turbine, and an enhanced four-stage low-pressure turbine, known for its efficiency and compact design. These cutting-edge technologies are housed within a newly designed ultra-slimline nacelle developed by Spirit AeroSystems.

In parallel, the construction of Rolls-Royce’s new 2,000 sqm production support facility in Le Haillan near Bordeaux, France, is progressing as planned. Strategically located in close proximity to Dassault’s final assembly line in Merignac, the facility will play a crucial role in supporting flight tests and production activities for the Falcon 10X. The site will feature offices, a workshop, and a warehouse, accommodating approximately 30 employees.

Dr. Phillip Zeller, SVP Dassault, Rolls-Royce, said:

“As a team we are extremely focused on the development of this engine and it makes me proud to see the continuous progress of the programme, achieving milestone after milestone. The combination of highly-efficient power and outstanding environmental performance of the Pearl 10X is in a class of its own and will support Dassault’s Falcon 10X in setting new standards in the ultra-long-range corporate jet market.

“We are now looking forward to delivering the first engines for the flight test campaign and I can’t wait to see it taking to the skies for the first time.”