Rolls-Royce completed the flight test campaign for its latest Pearl 10X aero engine last month, according to reports.
The six-month flight test campaign, which used Rolls-Royce’s Boeing 747 testbed in Arizona, USA started in April.
As reported by AIN and FlightGlobal last week, the aircraft logged 41,000 miles (66,000km) over 25 flights and was flown at a maximum altitude of 45,000ft. The testbed aircraft achieved a maximum speed of 690mph (1,110km/h). The test campaign achieved all objectives.
Rolls-Royce Deutschland senior vice president Philipp Zeller said, “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our global engineering and experimental test teams for their outstanding dedication and expertise in completing the Pearl 10X flying testbed campaign.
The launch customer for the Pearl 10X is French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, which will use the engine to power its latest flagship business jet, the Falcon 10X.
The Pearl 10X is the latest member of the Pearl engine family and the first Rolls-Royce engine ever to power a Dassault business jet.
The flight test program included 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 ground-based development and test program for the Pearl 10X included the testing of a new ultra-low emissions combustor, which is compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and a new accessory gearbox, which allows for higher additional power extraction.
The Pearl 10X features the efficient Advance2 engine core and a high-performance low-pressure system, resulting in a thrust of more than 18,000lbf. Compared to the last generation of Rolls-Royce business aviation engines, the Pearl 10X offers a 5% higher efficiency, while delivering lower noise and emissions.
