Dassault Aviation Terminates Falcon 5X Business Jet, Launches New Falcon Program

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Citing ongoing delays with the Silvercrest engine planned for use in its Falcon 5X business jet that was to enter service in 2017, Dassault Aviation plans to scrap the 5X program and start a new Falcon program featuring the same cabin cross-section and 5,500-nm range as the Falcon 5X but using Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines instead. (Photo courtesy of Dassault Falcon.)

Dassault Aviation, a subsidiary of the France-based Dassault Group and designer and manufacturer of twin-jet and tri-jet business aircraft and military aircraft, plans to terminate its contract with Safran for the engine maker’s Silvercrest turbofan, which was to power Dassault’s Falcon 5X twinjet. Dassault plans to cancel the Falcon 5X program and launch a new still-unnamed Falcon aircraft set to enter service in 2020 using Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines.

The New Falcon Aircraft

In a statement, Dassault Aviation indicated the new Falcon aircraft will sport the same cabin cross-section and support the same 5,500-nm range as the Falcon 5X. Dassault entered the civil aircraft sector in the mid-1960s with the Falcon 20. The Falcon family currently includes the Falcon 8X, 7X, 900LX, 2000LXS, and 2000S. Overall, Dassault has delivered roughly 2,500 business jets to date. Controller.com has numerous new and used Dassault aircraft for sale.

Originally, Dassault was to receive the first Silvercrest engines for the Falcon 5X by late 2013, but technical issues forced a delay. Additionally delays occurred in 2015 and 2016 that pushed delivery to 2017. That, in turn, led Dassault to delay the Falcon 5X’s service entry date from 2017 to 2020, a move representing a three-year delay and that forced the cancellation of 12 orders of the 5X for 2016 delivery.

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Dassault Aviation plans to negotiate the termination of its contract with Safran for that’s company Silvercrest jet engine, which was planned for use in the now scrapped Falcon 5X. Dassault’s Falcon 8X business jet is shown here. (Photo courtesy of Dassault Falcon.)

The Falcon 5X’s Maiden Flight

In July, the Falcon 5X’s maiden flight occurred with a “preliminary version” of the Silvercrest engine, which Dassault notes was “not compliant with the specifications.” Dassault then entered the 5X into a preliminary flight test campaign, although noting the campaign was “limited by engines capacity.” In the fall, Safran experienced more difficulties related to the high pressure compressor that forced additional delays and “new performance shortfall,” making the 2020 service entry for the 5X “impossible,” Dassault reported.

In a statement, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier noted “there is still a strong market need for a brand new long-range aircraft with a very large cabin,” a factor that led the company to launch a new Falcon project.

Source: Dassault Falcon