Page 15 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2016 Online Magazine

COVER STORY

shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay, from March scheduled, representing 140 flying hours and hours of flying time.
9-11. During the tests temperatures went a distance of 55,000 Nm. The Falcon 5X was The fifth test aircraft, T5, is in the midst
as low as -27° F (-33° C) and all systems, originally scheduled to make its maiden flight of receiving an outfitted interior at the
including avionics, electrical, hydraulic and in the first quarter of 2015, with certification Savannah Completions center and will be
digital flight control systems, performed to be achieved before the end of 2016. The used to test the cabin elements. Extensive
flawlessly. Full capability under extreme cold program has been hit with a substantial work also continues in the state-of-the-art
conditions was also demonstrated in flight delay as a result of problems related to its G500 and G600 lab facilities, where more
at the end of the campaign. Falcon 8X s/n 03 Snecma Silvercrest engines and the first than 47,200 hours of testing having been
is now in the midst of a one-month round the deliveries of the 5X to customers are now completed. In February, the G600 iron bird
world tour to demonstrate its operational planned to take place during the first-half made its first flight, setting in motion the
performance and reliability in a variety of of 2020. The Falcon 5X will have a cabin testing and validation required for the
conditions. A total of about 65 flights is height of six feet, six inches (1.98 m) and the G600’s actual first flight. The iron bird
16-passenger aircraft has a range of 9,630 allows engineers to test the flight control
km (5,200 nautical miles). The 5X will feature and mechanical systems, including landing
a new generation of the Falcon series’ EASy gear, brakes and hydraulics. The test
all-digital cockpit which will be supplied aircraft have been checking of important
by Honeywell and will have an “head-up test points and T2 has completed inlet
display” systems supplied by Israeli firm compatibility testing at Eglin Air Force
Elbit Systems. The new HUD will combine Base in Florida, where the new Pratt and
“enhanced vision” and “synthetic vision” for Whitney Canada PW814GA engines were
unsurpassed situational awareness, even in exposed to high wind conditions of up to
total darkness, fog or dense haze, displaying 45 mph (72 km/h). Engine functions from
a high fidelity view of the outside world even idle to takeoff power during crosswind
when actual visibility is zero. and tailwind conditions were successfully
demonstrated. Test example T3 is focused
Gulfstream on testing the all-new Symmetry Flight
The G500 and G600 are two new types Deck, along with various other mechanical
undergoing development by Gulfstream systems, while T4 which is the avionics test-
which are planned to be ready for delivery bed has commenced testing of the updated
in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Gulfstream avionics system. The G500 and G600 will be
announced in April that it had completed fitted with the revolutionary new Symmetry
the wing to fuselage join on the first Flight Deck, which incorporates active
Gulfstream G600 flight-test article. “The control sidesticks, integrated touchscreen
wing-to-fuselage join is a significant step in panels, a next-generation enhanced vision
manufacturing the first G600 and reflects system (EVS III) and Honeywell Primus
our continued steady progress toward first Epic avionics. Both jets will be able to
flight. The official launch of certification carry up to 19 passengers, have forward
testing on the G500 highlights the efforts and aft lavatories and include a full-size
being made to achieve certification in 2017. galley. The G500 can fly 9,260 kilometers
Together, these accomplishments attest (5,000 nautical miles) at Mach 0.85 or 7,038
to why Gulfstream is the leader in business km (3,800 nm) at Mach 0.90. The G600 is
aviation,” said Mark Burns, president, capable of traveling 11,482 km (6,200 nm) at
Gulfstream. Mach 0.85 or 8,890 km (4,800 nm) at Mach
The G500 flight-test program also 0.90.
continues to move ahead following the
completion of the maiden flight of the
type on May 18, 2015. The first G500
flight-test article, T1, has since achieved
a number of performance milestones,
reaching a maximum speed of Mach 0.995, Dassault Aviation’s new business
a maximum altitude of 53,000 feet/16,154 jet flagship is the tri-jet Falcon 8X.
meters. Four G500 test aircraft (T1-T4), The programme remains on track to
obtain official certification in mid-
make up the flight test programme and the 2016 and first customer deliveries
aircraft have accumulated more than 800 are to take place later this year
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