Rolls-Royce Unveils New Pearl Engine Family Member for Business Aviation

Oct. 22, 2019
The purpose-designed engine, the most powerful in the Rolls-Royce business jet propulsion portfolio, is the exclusive powerplant for the brand new Gulfstream G700.

Rolls-Royce today unveiled the Pearl 700, the latest addition to its Pearl engine family for business aviation. The purpose-designed engine, the most powerful in the Rolls-Royce business jet propulsion portfolio, is the exclusive powerplant for the brand new Gulfstream G700.

With more than 3,200 business jets in service today powered by Rolls-Royce engines, the company is the world’s leading engine supplier in this market. The Pearl 700 is the newest member of the state-of-the-art Pearl engine family, first introduced in 2018 and marks the seventh new civil aerospace engine introduced by Rolls-Royce over the past decade. Gulfstream’s selection of the Pearl 700 to power its new flagship aircraft reaffirms Rolls-Royce’s position as the leading business aviation engine manufacturer.

The 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 8 per cent increase in take-off thrust at 18,250lb compared to the BR725 engine. The engine offers a 12 per cent better thrust-to-weight ratio and 5 per cent higher efficiency, while maintaining its class-leading low noise and emissions performance. The result is an engine that is highly efficient, but also able to propel customers nearly as fast as the speed of sound (Mach 0.925).

It brings together innovative technologies derived from the Rolls-Royce Advance2 technology demonstrator program with proven features from the Rolls-Royce BR700, today’s leading engine family in business aviation. This includes a highly-efficient 51.8” blisked fan, a high pressure compressor with a market-leading pressure ratio of 24:1 and 6 blisked stages, an ultra-low emissions combustor, a 2-stage shroudless high pressure turbine and an enhanced 4-stage low pressure turbine, that is one of the most efficient and compact ones in the industry.

The engine’s pioneering technology, combined with outstanding performance, supports Gulfstream’s business aircraft in reaching new standards for the top end of the ultra-long-range corporate jet market. The engine has been developed at the Rolls-Royce Center of Excellence for Business Aviation Engines in Dahlewitz, Germany, and is currently undergoing a comprehensive test program.

Chris Cholerton, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, said, “Our whole team is very proud to power the very latest Gulfstream aircraft, the G700, and I congratulate the Gulfstream team on this special occasion. We are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership that started some 60 years and 4,500 engine deliveries ago with the Dart-powered Gulfstream I. The Pearl 700 is a pioneering product, that brings together our latest technology to deliver outstanding efficiency, supporting our leading position in the business aviation world.”

Mark Burns, CEO Gulfstream, said, “The Gulfstream-exclusive Pearl 700 engines that will power the world’s largest business jet at more than nine-tenths the speed of sound once again demonstrate the capabilities of the Rolls-Royce team. From our more than 60-year history with Rolls-Royce, we know they will deliver a first-rate experience to our Gulfstream G700 customers, from the capabilities of the powerplant to their comprehensive after-market support. We are excited to work with them on the industry’s new flagship, the all-new Gulfstream G700.”