Aircelle’s business aviation leadership is profiled at NBAA 2015

Safran reinforces its in-field repair services for nacelles with Sabena technics

November 20, 2015

Aircelle's standing as a world-leading nacelle supplier for business jets was underscored during the NBAA 2015 Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada this week – where its hardware and systems were included on both new and in-production aircraft. The following "walkaround" provides highlights from this event, organized by the U.S.-based National Business Aviation Association, with photos taken on Henderson Executive Airport's outdoor aircraft static display and inside the Las Vegas Convention Center:

Dassault Aviation's flagship Falcon 8X made its first North American appearance at the 2015 NBAA Convention and Exhibition. This tri-jet's two side-mounted PW307 engines utilize Aircelle nacelles and its target-type thrust reversers, along with an S-duct that provides airflow to the aft fuselage-integrated third engine. The new Falcon 8X remains on schedule for certification by mid-2016, and is derived from Dassault Aviation's popular Falcon 7X (which also is outfitted by Aircelle).

	At NBAA 2015, Aircelle announced it was selected to supply the proven PERT® thrust reversers for Textron Aviation's revamped Cessna Citation Longitude. Aircelle will have a direct supplier role to the aircraft manufacturer for these thrust reversers, which are to equip the Longitude's two HTF7700L turbofan engines. A full-scale ground test version of the Longitude was brought to Henderson Executive Airport for NBAA 2015, providing a preview of the super-midsize business jet – which is scheduled to make its first flight in 2016.

Embraer Executive Jets' recently-certified Legacy 450 mid-light business jet came to NBAA 2015 with the news of its flight range extension to a distance 2,900 naut. mi. As one of the fastest aircraft in its category, the Legacy 450 utilizes two HTF7000E engines with Aircelle's PERT® thrust reversers. Aircelle thrust reversers also equip Embraer's Legacy 500 midsize twin-engine business jet, which is powered by a pair of HTF7000Es as well.

	The super-midsize Bombardier Challenger 350 is another business jet fitted with Aircelle's PERT® thrust reversers, incorporated on the aircraft's two HTF7350 engines. At NBAA 2015, a Challenger 350 owned by VistaJet and operated by Priester Aviation was displayed with a "record-breaker" logo – symbolizing the recent world speed set while flying from Napa Valley, California to the Cayman Islands. The flight's distance of 2,774 miles was covered in five hours and five minutes.

More than 450 Gulfstream-built G550 aircraft are in service worldwide, collectively logging over one million flight hours with very high dispatch reliability. The ultra-long-range G550 is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710 engines with Aircelle's two-door target type thrust reversers. Participating in the static display at NBAA 2015 was this G550, brought to Henderson Executive Airport by Avpro, Inc.

	Aircelle has complete nacelle design, production and integration responsibility on the Snecma Silvercrest® engines for Dassault Aviation's Falcon 5X large-cabin twin-jet business aircraft. The engine and nacelle combination is being developed as an integrated powerplant system by Snecma and Aircelle, both of which are companies within the Safran group. A functional engine was highlighted on Safran's NBAA 2015 exhibit in the Las Vegas Convention Center.