 |
| Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft at the rollout ceremony at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Merignac facility. Photo: Dassault |
[Avionics Today 12-18-14] Dassault Aviation has rolled back the curtains on the latest addition to its business jet family and new flagship aircraft: the Falcon 8X. Unveiled at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Merignac facility, the Falcon 8X will offer the greatest range — 6,450 nm — and the longest cabin in the Falcon line. Announced in May of this year at European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), the Falcon 8X builds on the performance and technologies set by the 7X long range tri-jet.
Wing mating and engine installation on the first Falcon 8X were completed in July and first power up occurred shortly after. Ground tests, including flight control system testing, vibration tests and fuel system testing, concluded in November. The first engine run up took place in early December and the aircraft is on track for a maiden flight in the first quarter of 2015. 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.
Final assembly and testing of the 8X is taking place at the Charles Lindbergh hall at Merignac. The facility was built to handle production of the Falcon 7X, and the 8X will draw on the same digital design and manufacturing techniques.