During the test campaigns, the Pearl 700 has proved its reliability and performance under extreme conditions, experiencing cold start temperatures, where fuel viscosity is comparable to honey.
13 October 2021: The Rolls Royce Pearl 700 engine programme has achieved an important test milestone on its way to certification and entry into service in 2022. It has reached more ;8000 test cycles and more than 3,000 testing hours. During the test campaigns, the Pearl 700 has proved its reliability and performance under extreme conditions, experiencing cold start temperatures, where fuel viscosity is comparable to honey. The engine has performed equally well in hot conditions, successfully completing long, high power endurance runs and high-cycle tests, and has successfully demonstrated that it can run on 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Not even the global pandemic could stop the rigorous test regime – the medium bird strike test was performed with a novel remote set-up allowing key members of the team to join the test virtually.
Dr Dirk Geisinger, Director Business Aviation, Rolls-Royce said, “Seeing the Pearl 700 programme running at such a fast pace makes me really proud of the team behind it. In addition to the extensive ground testing, the flight test campaign is progressing exceptionally well. Today, it stands at more than 3,000 engine flying hours from more than 2,000 engine flights and with the G700 test aircraft fleet in the air these numbers are increasing daily. The pioneering technology and the outstanding performance of the Pearl 700 supports Gulfstream’s business aircraft in reaching new standards for the top end of the ultra-long-range corporate jet market.”
The highly efficient Pearl 700 combines the Advance2 engine core, the most efficient core available across the business aviation sector, with a brand-new low-pressure system, resulting in an eight per cent increase in take-off thrust at 18,250lb compared to the BR725 engine. The engine offers a five per cent higher efficiency, while maintaining its class-leading low noise and emissions performance.
It brings together innovative technologies derived from the Rolls-Royce Advance2 technology demonstrator programme with experience from the Rolls-Royce BR700, today’s leading engine family in business aviation. This includes a highly-efficient blisked fan, a high-pressure compressor with a market-leading pressure ratio of 24:1 and six blisked stages, an ultra-low emissions combustor, a two-stage shroudless high pressure turbine and an enhanced four-stage low pressure turbine that is one of the most efficient and compact in the industry.
The flight test programme started in February 2020 and is progressing with a fleet of five dedicated flight-test aircraft and one production-test aircraft. The advanced Pearl 700 engines have already powered Gulfstream’s new flagship aircraft G700 beyond its maximum operating speed and cruise altitude.
