Falcon 8X © Dassault Aviation - S. Randé Dassault Aviation rolled out the first prototype of its new flagship Falcon 8X, the latest addi...
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| Falcon 8X © Dassault Aviation - S. Randé |
The ultra long range jet was unveiled at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Merignac facility in France, to an audience of customers, operators, industrial partners and representatives of certification authorities.
The 8X features the greatest range and the longest cabin in the Falcon line, along with the most extensive selection of cabin configurations available on any executive jet.
The Falcon 8X cabin will be 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) high and 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) wide and 42 ft 8 in (13 m) long.
With more than 30 configurations available, customers can choose from three galley sizes – two with a crew-rest option – and lounges of varying lengths capable of supporting a range of lavatory layouts, including a lav with shower.
Announced in May of this year at European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), the Falcon 8X builds on the successful 7X business jet.
The 8X will offer a range of 6,450 nm (11,945 km) – and a cabin 3.5 feet longer than the 7X.
With eight passengers and three crew, the Falcon 8X will be capable of flying 6,450 nm at M.80 non-stop. It will be powered by an improved version of the Pratt and Whitney Canada PW307 engine that equips the Falcon 7X.
Combined with improvements to wing design, the new power plant will make the 8X up to 35% more fuel efficient than any other aircraft in the ultra-long range segment, affording a corresponding savings in operating costs.
The 8X avionics update include an enhanced version of the 7X’s Digital Flight Control System along with a redesigned cockpit featuring an optional combined synthetic/enhanced vision head-up display.
Like the 7X, the Falcon 8X will be capable of approaches up to 6 degrees, allowing it to serve challenging airports such as London City Airport; and Lugano, Switzerland that are normally not accessible to large cabin aircraft. The aircraft will have a balanced field length of about 6,000 ft and an approach speed at typical landing weight of 107 kts.
A total of three aircraft, including one fully outfitted with a cabin interior, will be used in the flight test and certification campaign. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2016.
