Rolls-Royce begins flight tests with the Pearl 10X

Rolls-Royce successfully launched a flight test campaign for its latest Pearl 10X business jet engine in March. The British engine manufacturer announced this on April 3. The turbofan will be intensively tested on the company’s Boeing 747-200 from Tucson, Arizona in the coming months.

The flight test program includes engine performance and handling tests at different speeds and at different altitudes, in-flight restarts, nacelle anti-icing system tests and fan vibration tests at different altitudes, according to Rolls – Royce.

Rolls-Royce’s most powerful business jet engine

Rolls-Royce said in a press release that a new SAF-compliant low-emission combustion chamber with 3D printed components and a new auxiliary gearbox, which enables additional power output, have already been extensively tested on the ground. To date, more than 2,300 hours of testing have been completed as part of the program.

The Pearl 10X is the latest and most powerful engine in the new Pearl family. It is the sole engine of the Dassault Falcon 10X. This is the first time a French commercial aircraft manufacturer has used an engine from Rolls-Royce. Turbofan provides more than 80 kilonewtons of starting thrust; at Dassault’s request, Rolls-Royce does not disclose the actual value.

Compared to its predecessor BR725, the Pearl 10X is said to have a five percent higher efficiency. The Pearl 10X uses the Advance2 engine base, which was developed by Rolls-Royce in Dahlewitz from 2014. The Advance2 includes lightweight and heat-resistant materials that enable high pressure, a large bypass ratio and a one-piece blower.