Citation Hemisphere’s engine maker in big acquisition

Safran, the engine supplier to Textron Aviation Cessna’s new Citation Hemisphere, plans to acquire aircraft interiors company Zodiac Aerospace for $10.3 billion.

The deal between the two France-based companies would create the world’s third-largest aerospace supplier.

Safran makes avionics, engines and related systems for civil and military aircraft, and satellites and rockets. Its Snecma Silvercrest jet engine will power the Hemisphere business jet under development, which will put the Citation line in the large jet category for the first time.

The Silvercrest was earlier slated to go on the Citation Longitude super midsize business jet currently in flight test, but delays in the new engine program prompted Textron Aviation to go with Honeywell’s HTF7700L engines.

Cessna expects the Hemisphere’s first flight in 2019.

This story was originally published January 19, 2017 at 10:55 AM.