Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Dassault Aviation revealed details of its long-awaited SMS jet today at the NBAA Convention, along with a new name: the Falcon 5X. Development of the jet, which will be powered by two Snecma Silvercrest engines, is well under way, with first flight scheduled for the first half of 2015 and entry-into-service two years later.


Key features of the 5X include a wide cabin and new wing. It will also have a fly-by-wire flight control system that, for the first time in a Falcon, also incorporates spoiler and air brake control, while new flaperons are introduced to aid high-speed roll-control and low-speed lift augmentation.


Although the aircraft will come in at around $45 million and the Falcon 7X will remain as Dassault’s flagship business aircraft, the French manufacturer said the 5X would likely form the baseline for the next-generation of Falcons, including an aircraft with a size and range greater than the 7X to compete with new large jets from Bombardier and Gulfstream. It suggested that this follow-on model could be the 8X, since the number eight is a lucky number in China.


A full-size cabin mockup of the Falcon 5X is being displayed this week at the NBAA static park at Henderson Executive Airport in Las Vegas.

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