Snecma (SAFRAN Group) announces the beginning of the test campaign of the Silvercrest core engine demonstrator at its Villaroche test facility in France.

The core demonstrator is fully instrumented with temperature, pressure and vibration sensors. The extensive and comprehensive development and testing program will validate the full range of the core's capability and performance.

"We are proud to achieve, on schedule, this key milestone toward a new generation business jet engine and look forward to the results of these major tests, essential to optimize the full-scale engine design," said François Planaud, Snecma Vice President & General Manager commercial engine division.

The core demonstrator paves the way to the design of the new Silvercrest family of engines bringing spectacular advances in performance, reliability and environmental friendliness over current generation engines.

The Silvercrest engine family, developing 9,500 to 12,000 lb of thrust, is intended for super-midsize to large business jets. The typical Silvercrest application will be a large cabin, long-range aircraft. The engine design integrates specific features that will also meet the needs of 40 to 60-seat regional jets whenever relevant market conditions allow carriers to replace their existing fleets.

About Snecma  

Snecma, SAFRAN group, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft and space engines, with a wide range of propulsion systems on offer. The company designs and builds commercial aircraft engines that are powerful, reliable, economical and environmentally friendly, along with military aircraft engines that have always delivered world-class performance. Snecma develops and produces propulsion systems and equipment for launch vehicles and satellites. CFM56 engines are produced and marketed by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between General Electric and Snecma.