Page 22 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 Online Magazine
P. 22
BUSINESS JETS DASSAULT AVIATION
Falcon Premiere
Dassault has high hopes for its range topping Falcon 8X
By J K Chandra
dASSAULT AVIATION’S RANGE TOPPING and CEO of Dassault Aviation said “the
tri-jet, the ultra-long range Falcon 8X will 8X will be our most advanced fly-by-wire
look to build on the success of its strong business jet, drawing on the heritage
selling predecessor the Falcon 7X. The of the popular Falcon 7X and 40 years
official roll out of the Falcon 8X took place of digital flight control experience with
last December at Dassault’s Bordeaux- top-line fighter aircraft.” “It will be the
Merignac facility in France, where every biggest Falcon ever and yet will remain
new Falcon aircraft and Dassault fighter amazingly light and agile, totally at home
has made its maiden flight since 1949. The at small, demanding airports like Aspen,
Falcon 8X improves on nearly every aspect St. Moritz and Cannes, and despite its
of the 7X (the fastest selling Falcon ever), size, the 8X will be more efficient too.” The
offering a cabin that is 3.5 feet longer maiden flight of Dassault’s new flagship
and a greater range of 6,450 nm (11,945 business jet is expected to take place
Dassault’s Falcon 8X could km), while remaining as efficient as the within the next couple of months. The
hit the sweet spot between
longer range and more 7X. More than 250 Falcon 7X’s have been test flying and certification campaign will
expensive aircraft like the built, since it was introduced into service involve three aircraft including one with a
Gulfstream G650 and its eight years ago. Speaking at the rollout completely outfitted cabin. Certification is
smaller Falcon 7X stablemate in Merignac, Eric Trappier, Chairman to be achieved by the second half of next
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