Turkish businessman first buyer of $45 million new French jet

ISTANBUL

Dassault Aviation’s ambitious aircraft, the Falcon 5X, was first exhibited in Las Vegas at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention on Oct. 21. DHA photo

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has received its first order for its recently unveiled $45 million Falcon jet from Turkish businessman Mehmet Cengiz, local media have reported.

Mehmet Cengiz is the owner of Cengiz Holding, a company that is part of the consortium which successfully tendered for the construction of Istanbul’s third airport in May, with build-operate-transfer model. The consortium will pay the government 22.1 billion euros over a 25-year-period starting from 2017. The Cengiz-Kolin-Limak joint-venture also managed to win the tender to sell Akdeniz Elektrik Dağıtım, the Mediterranean region’s power distribution company, with a $546 million bid, in the last financial year.

Dassault Aviation’s ambitious aircraft, the Falcon 5X, was first exhibited in Las Vegas at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention on Oct. 21, drawing substantial attention from the sector.

The model is a new-generation business jet with a new flight control system, new aerodynamics and other advanced technologies, many pioneered in Dassault’s military programs.

“The Falcon 5X is the new benchmark for the creative use of advanced technology in business aviation,” said Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation during the jet’s inauguration ceremony.

The Falcon 5X represents the French aircraft-maker’s biggest investment since the beginning of the Falcon programs.

To be priced at about $45 million, the Falcon 5X is expected to make its first flight in the first quarter of 2015 and to achieve certification before the end of 2016, Dassault said.