Rolls-Royce has announced the launch of a new engine family for business aviation, with the introduction of the Pearl.

The engine has been purpose-built and will be the sole engine for Bombardier’s latest business jets, the Global 5500 aircraft and the Global 6500 aircraft.

The Pearl 15 is the first of the planned Pearl engine family for business aviation and marks the sixth new civil aerospace engine introduced by Rolls-Royce in the past 10 years.

The Pearl engine combines technologies from Rolls-Royce’s Advance2 technology demonstrator programmes with proven features from the Rolls-Royce BR700 business aviation family.

Reducing emissions

Rolls-Royce says the Pearl 15 will deliver up to 15,125lb of thrust (ISA +15), thanks to the most efficient engine core available across the business aviation sector.

Further, the company claims that despite delivering up to 9% more thrust during take-off than the BR700, the engine will be 2 decibels quieter and operators will benefit from a 7% improvement in specific fuel consumption (SFC).

The engine promises to deliver “world-leading emissions performance”, including best in class NOx emissions, despite propelling customers at speeds approaching the speed of sound (Mach 0.90).

Chris Cholerton, President – Civil Aerospace, 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.”

He added: “The Pearl engine is a pioneering product, bringing together the most eco- friendly and efficient technologies available today.”

Taking off in 2019

The new engine, which has been developed at Rolls-Royce’s Centre of Excellence for Business Aviation engines in Dahlewitz, Germany, has undergone a comprehensive test programme and received EASA certification on 28 February 2018. The engine is currently undergoing flight tests at Bombardier’s Flight Test Centre in Wichita, Kansas, supporting the planned entry into service at the end of 2019.

The Pearl family will be supported by the Rolls-Royce CorporateCare service aftermarket programme.

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