Premier Aircraft has moved a step closer to launching its Honeywell TFE731-4 re-engining programme for the Dassault Falcon 50 trijet, with a successful integration test of the existing nacelle and new compound nozzle in the engine manufacturer's Phoenix, Arizona test cell.
Formed by Premier Air Center and investment firm Yankee Pacific, Premier Aircraft plans to begin certification of the Falcon 50-4 performance upgrade when it has a minimum of 10 customers. The East Alton, Illinois-based venture expects to begin the supplemental type certification effort by the end of March, leading to approval in the fourth quarter.
Priced at $2.3 million, the "engine-only" upgrade replaces the Falcon 50's TFE731-3-series turbofans with digitally controlled TFE731-4-1Cs.
Premier says the nacelle-nozzle integration test verified the projected higher thrust and lower specific fuel consumption, and supports estimates of a 315km (170nm) longer range with six passengers at Mach 0.75, and a direct climb to 39,000ft in 25min versus 37,000ft in 28min for the unmodified Falcon.
Source: Flight International
