Business and General Aviation 2017 Highlights

TriFan 600

Dassault flew its Falcon 5X (pictured) for the first time on July 5, but five months later canceled development of the super-midsize business jet after further delays to its new Safran Silvercrest engine pushed entry into service beyond 2020. In its place, Dassault has launched development of a new longer-range, 5,500-nm aircraft with the same 102-in. cabin width and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines.

More than 30 years after the prototype first flew, the new Dornier Seastar was rolled out in August at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, by Dornier Seawings, now majority owned by Chinese companies Wuxi Communications Industry and Wuxi Industry Development. First flight is planned for 2019 and certification for 2020. Airframes for the upgraded Seastar are produced by Diamond Aircraft in Austria. 

One Aviation flew a testbed for its Eclipse 700 light jet on Sept. 1, an Eclipse 500 modified with the larger wing planned for the new aircraft. In addition to a new wing with increased fuel capacity, the Eclipse 700 will have a 14-in. fuselage extension and Williams International FJ33-5A turbofans replacing the Eclipse 500’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610Fs. Certification is planned for 2019.

Textron Aviation in October 2017 opened the orderbook on Cessna’s biggest business jet yet, the large-cabin Citation Hemisphere. With a range of 4,500 nm, maximum speed of Mach 0.90, and a 102-in.-wide cabin, the aircraft is to be powered by Safran Silvercrest engines and equipped with Honeywell Primus Epic avionics. First flight is planned for 2019, leading to certification and service entry in 2021.

Textron Aviation in November 2017 launched the Cessna SkyCourier 408 twin-turboprop cargo aircraft with a firm order from FedEx Express for 50 aircraft, plus options for 50 more. Powered by 1,100-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SCs, the fixed-gear aircraft can carry 6,000 lb. of payload in three LD3 containers, or 19 passengers. First flight is planned for mid-2019, leading to entry into service in 2020.

Pilatus Aircraft’s first business jet, the super-light PC-24, received European and U.S. certification in December 2017, with first delivery to U.S. fractional operator PlaneSense expected by year-end. Capable of operating from short and rough fields, the PC-24 is powered by Williams International FJ44-4A turbofans and has an integrated flight deck based on Honeywell Primus Apex avionics.

Aerion in December announced a memorandum of understanding with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works on joint development of the AS2 supersonic business jet covering a 12-month prelaunch phase that it hopes will lead to the U.S. defense giant investing in the program and becoming the airframe supplier. Aerion had earlier reached agreement with General Electric to define an engine for the Mach 1.4-cruise trijet, which it plans to fly in 2023 for entry into service late in 2025.