Story ID: 
Dassault Launches Super-midsize Falcon
By: Thierry Dubois
Caption: Speaking yesterday in Paris to employees, Dassault Aviation chairman Charles Edelstenne announced the long-awaited launch of a new Falcon in the super-mids
Word Count: 165
Speaking yesterday in Paris to employees, Dassault Aviation chairman Charles Edelstenne announced the long-awaited launch of a new Falcon in the super-midsize business jet segment, a company spokesman confirmed to AIN. The French manufacturer has previously revealed that the airplane, codenamed SMS (for super-midsize), will have fly-by-wire flight controls and an advanced glass cockpit. In June, Dassault selected a new Rolls-Royce engine in the 10,000-pound-thrust range for the airplane. Developed through the Rolls-Royce technology acquisition program, the RB282 is the first of a new series of engines designed to meet stringent performance, reliability and environmental requirements. At the NBAA Convention in September, Edelstenne said Dassault would choose “other partners” before the end of this year, at which time the company will reveal more details about the airplane. His comments yesterday could signal that more details about the Falcon SMS will be forthcoming in May at EBACE in Geneva. Previously, the company said it was not yet ready to take orders for the new business jet.