Rolls-Royce will be launching its latest Pearl engine family on Bombardier’s Global 5500 and Global 6500 business jets, both of which are currently undergoing flight testing for planned entry into service with the new Pearl engine at the end of 2019.
The Pearl 15 is the first engine of the Pearl family for the business aviation market and marks the sixth new civil aerospace engine introduced by Rolls-Royce in the past 10 years. It combines technology derived from Rolls-Royce’s Advance2 technology demonstrator programs with proven features from the Rolls-Royce BR700, a current leading engine family in business aviation.
The Pearl 15 will deliver up to 15,125 lb of thrust (ISA +15). Rolls-Royce claims it has the most efficient engine core available across the business aviation sector, as it allows for up to 9% more thrust during take-off than the BR700, while still being 2dB quieter and using 7% less fuel (SFC).
Chris Cholerton, president of civil aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said, “Our teams have worked hard behind the scenes to develop this new engine and we are proud, once again, to lead the way in business aviation. The Pearl engine is a pioneering product, bringing together the most eco- friendly and efficient technologies available today.”
The new engine has been developed at Rolls-Royce’s Centre of Excellence for Business Aviation engines in Dahlewitz, Germany. It has already undergone a comprehensive test program and received EASA certification on February 28, 2018. The engine is currently undergoing flight tests at Bombardier’s Flight Test Center in Wichita, Kansas.
David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, said, “The Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft have the longest range, the largest cabins and the smoothest ride in their class, and we are very proud that they will be powered by the advanced and efficient Pearl engine, purpose-built for these aircraft by our longstanding partners at Rolls-Royce.”
Rolls-Royce will also be offering a comprehensive aftermarket program for the engines called CorporateCare, which covers parts and labor for off-wing maintenance at a fixed hourly cost.
To fend of unnecessary maintenance as much as possible, the Pearl 15 also features an engine health monitoring system that introduces advanced vibration detection, remote engine diagnostics and bi-directional communications that allow for easy remote reconfiguration of engine-monitoring features from the ground.
May 30, 2018
