Textron goes ahead with new Cessna jet, chooses engines

ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - Cessna Aircraft Co said on Monday it is going ahead with a new large-cabin business jet, the Hemisphere, and will use an engine made by Safran of France that has suffered delays.

Cessna, a subsidiary of Textron Inc , said it chose Safran's Silvercrest engine to power the Hemisphere even though Dassault Aviation delayed first flight of its Falcon 5X jet, originally set for the summer of 2015, because of delays in getting Silvercrest engines.

"We're confident" the engine will meet specifications and be delivered on time, Textron Aviation Chief Executive Officer Scott Ernest said in a briefing at the National Business Aviation Association conference here.