ROLLS-ROYCE: PEARL 10X TAKES TO THE SKIES

Rolls-Royce has announced that it has successfully started the flight test campaign for its latest business jet engine, the Pearl 10X.

Boeing used it’s dedicated 747 flying testbed for the flights, marling an important milestone for the Pearl 10X programme and for Rolls-Royce itself as it focuses on the growing in the business aviation market.

Located in Tucson, Arizona, the pilots and flight engineers are set to rigorously test the Pearl 10X in the upcoming months. The flight testing will encompass evaluations of engine performance and handling checks at various speeds and altitudes, inflight relights, tests of the nacelle’s anti-icing system, and fan vibration tests at various altitudes.

The Pearl 10X has been selected by Dassault to exclusively power its brand-new flagship aircraft, the Falcon 10X, and the newest member of the state-of-the-art Pearl engine family is also the first Rolls-Royce engine ever to power a Dassault business jet. The French manufacturer’s selection of the 10X for its new product is further evidence of Rolls-Royce’s position as the leading engine manufacturer in business aviation.

So far, the programme on the ground has included the testing of the new ultra-low emissions ALM combustor, which is compatible with 100% SAF and the new accessory gearbox, which allows for higher additional power extraction. The engine, which surpassed its target thrust levels on the first test run, will be the most powerful business aviation engine in the Rolls-Royce portfolio.

Philipp Zeller, Senior Vice President Dassault, Business Aviation, Rolls-Royce, concludes: “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 Aviation’s flagship, the Falcon 10X.”