The Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engine development programme for Dassault’s new flagship aircraft Falcon 10X is running full steam ahead

UK. Rolls-Royce announces on May 23 that, the progress of its Pearl 10X engine development programme at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.

The programme is advancing at pace and has successfully accumulated more than 1,500 testing hours, both on the Advance 2 demonstrator and the Pearl 10X engine configuration. The team is now preparing for the start of the flight test campaign on Rolls-Royce’s dedicated Boeing 747 flying testbed in Tucson, Arizona, USA, which will start later this year.

The Pearl 10X is the newest member of the state-of-the-art Pearl engine family and the first Rolls‑Royce engine ever to power a Dassault business jet. The French aircraft manufacturer’s selection of the Pearl 10X for its new top range product is another testament to Rolls-Royce’s position as the engine manufacturer of choice in business aviation.

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.

So far, the development programme has included the 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 allows for higher additional power extraction. The engine, which surpassed its target thrust levels on the very first test run, will be the most powerful business aviation engine in the whole Rolls-Royce portfolio. The first run of the full powerplant, including its bespoke Spirit nacelle, engine build up (EBU) and mount system, was conducted earlier this year.

The Pearl 10X features the Advance2 engine core, the most efficient core available across the business aviation sector, and combines it with a high-performance low-pressure system, resulting in a superior 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 outstanding low noise and emissions performance. The result is an engine that offers a market-leading combination of power and efficiency. This combination will enable customers and operators to have premium airport accessibility and fly ultra-long-range connections whilst also being able to travel nearly as fast as the speed of sound.

The engine brings together innovative technologies derived from the Rolls‑Royce Advance2 demonstrator programme and proven Pearl family features to deliver world-class environmental performance. This includes 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 as well as an enhanced four-stage low pressure turbine that is one of the most efficient and compact in the industry. This suite of technologies is housed within a brand new, ultra-slimline nacelle from Spirit AeroSystems.

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.”

Meanwhile, the construction of Rolls-Royce’s new 2,000 sqm production support facility in Le Haillan near Bordeaux, France, is progressing according to plan. The site, which is in close proximity to Dassault’s final assembly line in Merignac, will play an important role in supporting the flight test and production activities for Dassault’s Falcon 10X. The facility will house offices, a workshop and a warehouse, and will be home for approximately 30 employees.