Premier Aircraft, Honeywell Call For 2005 Certification

The recently-announced performance upgrade from Premier Aircraft for the Dassault Falcon 50, called the Falcon 50-4, has passed its first engineering milestone: the integration test of the existing nacelle and new engine nozzle at Honeywell’s engine facilities in Phoenix, AZ.

The test results validate the engineering predictions for the first phase of the new nozzle development and verify the Honeywell estimates of thrust and thrust specific fuel consumption (TSFC) that support Premier’s performance estimates for the Falcon 50-4. The upgraded aircraft, powered by three TFE-731-4 engines, is expected to have longer range, increased hot-high performance (for significantly increased payloads), increased climb performance and higher cruise thrust, than the original-specification aircraft.

Premier Aircraft and Honeywell plan further investigation of nozzle designs to determine if further revisions in nozzle configuration will produce additional performance benefits for the Falcon 50-4.

Premier Aircraft will begin certification of the Falcon 50-4 Performance Upgrade upon obtaining a minimum of ten customers. Jim Swehla, Premier Aircraft president, reports brisk sales activity since the announcement of the Falcon 50-4 program at the 2004 Convention of the National Business Aviation Association, with over 20 qualified inquiries identified in the last two months. Premier is offering incentives to its first ten customers and expects the STC effort to commence on schedule during the first quarter of 2005, with award of the STC planned for fourth quarter 2005.

Price of the performance upgrade is $2.305 million, but may be much less for customers enrolled on MSP. In addition, a special MSP rate and engine warranty is provided with the upgrade, as is an extended CZI interval. Premier Aircraft LLC is a limited liability company formed by Premier Air Center, Inc. of East Alton, Illinois and Yankee Pacific, LLC, a New Hampshire-based aviation investment and business development company.

FMI: www.honeywell.com