Safran Silvercrest
| Silvercrest | |
|---|---|
| |
| The engine on display at the Paris Air Show 2013 | |
| Type | Turbofan |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Safran |
| First run | September 2012[1] |
| Major applications | Cessna Citation Hemisphere |
| Number built | 7[2] |
The Safran Silvercrest was a French turbofan chosen for the Dassault Falcon 5X and Cessna Citation Hemisphere. It did not meet the requirements for either aircraft program and was cancelled while still in the development stage. It was a product of Safran Aircraft Engines.
Development
[edit]The engine was announced at the 2006 National Business Aviation Association convention.[3]
The first engine went to test in September 2012.[1][4] Flight testing started in July 2014 on a Grumman Gulfstream II at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base.[5] Problem areas disclosed at the time included high-pressure compressor operability, oil-fuel heat exchanger performance, carcass distortion and turbine tip clearance control.[6]
In December 2017, Dassault abandoned the Silvercrest due to technical and schedule risks. It terminated the 5X program and launched a new Falcon with the same cross section, Pratt & Whitney Canada engines and a 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) range for a 2022 introduction.
In July 2019, Textron suspended the Cessna Citation Hemisphere development due to engine shortcomings.[7]
Design
[edit]_(cropped).jpg)
It was originally designed as an 8,500–10,500 lbf (38–47 kN) thrust turbofan.[8] It was meant for large-cabin business jets and 40 to 60-seat regional jets with a maximum takeoff weight of 45,000 to 60,000 lb (20,000 to 27,000 kg).[9] In 2016 the thrust range was quoted as 10,000–12,000 lbf (44–53 kN).[10]
The two-shaft engine included a 42.5 in (108 cm) fan with solid wide-chord swept blades, followed by 4 booster stages, all driven by a 4-stage low pressure turbine. The high pressure spool had 4 axial compressor stages and 1 centrifugal stage, driven by a single-stage turbine.[1] An axi-centrifugal compressor was unusual for an engine with more than 10,000 lb thrust.[10]
A related design in 2007 used a smaller 40-inch fan with a lower 4.5 bypass ratio, no booster, an extra high-pressure compressor stage, one less low-pressure turbine stage, a 27:1 overall pressure ratio and a core pressure ratio of "over 17".[11]
Applications
[edit]- Silvercrest 2C
- Cessna Citation Hemisphere development aircraft only, first flight 2019.
- Silvercrest SC-2D
- Dassault Falcon 5X development aircraft only; thrust 11,450 lbf (50.9 kN). Both aircraft and engine were simultaneously unveiled at the National Business Aviation Association annual convention on October 21, 2013, with entry into service in 2020.[12] Dassault announced the cancellation of the 5X program on 13 December 2017.
Specifications (2D)
[edit]
Data from Snecma.[13]
General characteristics
- Type: axial and centrifugal flow, twin-shaft, bypass turbofan engine
- Length: approx. 74 inches (190 cm)
- Diameter: 42.5 inches (108 cm) Fan
- Dry weight: 2,290 lb (1,040 kg)[14]
Components
- Compressor: 4 low-pressure stages, 4 high-pressure blisks + 1 centrifugal stage
- Turbine: 1 high-pressure, 4 low-pressure stages
Performance
- Maximum thrust: 11,450 lbf (50.9 kN)
- Overall pressure ratio: 38.5 [15]
- Bypass ratio: 5.9:1
- Thrust-to-weight ratio: 5[14]
See also
[edit]Comparable engines
Related lists
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Thierry Dubois (31 Oct 2013). "Snecma puts Silvercrest engine to test". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ^ "Engines special report: Snecma". Executive & VIP Aviation International. Summer 2014.
- ^ "SILVERCREST: a new name in propulsion for business aviation". SAFRAN. 17 Oct 2006.
- ^ Ian Goold (20 May 2013). "Snecma Close To Second Application For Silvercrest". Aviation International News.
- ^ Thierry Dubois (15 Jul 2014). "Snecma Begins Flight-testing Silvercrest on Modified Gulfstream II". Aviation International News.
- ^ Guy Norris (Oct 10, 2017). "Safran Engine Issues Cause Further Dassault Falcon 5X Delay". Aviation Week Network.
- ^ Michael Gubisch (17 July 2019). "Textron suspends Cessna Hemisphere programme". Flightglobal.
- ^ Jeff Apter (30 Nov 2006). "Snecma develops new bizav engine". Aviation International News.
- ^ "Snecma Announces Silvercrest Core demonstrator First Parts Delivered". SAFRAN. 22 May 2007.
- ^ a b "Safran Reveals Revised Silvercrest Test Plan". Aviation Week. November 1, 2016.
- ^ Thierry Dubois (30 Apr 2007). "Snecma Silvercrest core to run later this year". Aviation International News.
- ^ "Dassault confirms two-year delay for 5X". flightglobal.com. 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
- ^ "Silvercrest 2D for the Dassault Aviation Falcon 5X". Safran Aircraft Engines.
- ^ a b "Snecma's Silvercrest To Power New Falcon Jet". Aviation International News. October 22, 2013.
- ^ "New Aircraft Concepts for Improved Environmental and Energetic Efficiency" (PDF). Técnico Lisboa. November 2014.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Safran's Move Into Business Aviation is Back on Track With Silvercrest Engine. Aviation International News. November 9, 2016.