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 |
| Status | Development is practically ceased |
| Number built | 7[2] |
The Safran Silvercrest was a French turbofan unsuccessful development intended to power the Dassault Falcon 5X and Cessna Citation Hemisphere. A project of Safran Aircraft Engines, it did not meet the requirements for either aircraft program and was cancelled while still in the development stage.
Development
[edit]The Silvercrest 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 [Lackland Air Base, San Antonio, Texas]. Later, in 2017 moved to 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]- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 "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.