Dassault Aviation Brings Falcon 8X To Wings India
Dassault Aviation’s tri-jet, ultra-long-range Falcon 8X business jet made its first appearance at Wings India, the largest civil aviation exhibition in India, on March 8 at the Hyderabad Begumpet Airport. Deliveries of Falcon 8Xs began in late 2016, and the aircraft recently made it first appearance at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo in late February. Along with 8Xs, Dassault manufacturers the Falcon 7X, 900LX, 2000LXS, and 2000S business jets and Rafale military fighters. The company is also working on the Falcon 6X for upcoming release.
When In India
The Indian region has been a good one for Dassault over the years. The company has 26 Falcon aircraft serving in the country and made its first 8X delivery to an Indian customer last year. That delivery put the 8X into operation in all major global markets. Dubbing itself the “large cabin market leader” in India, Dassault says it enjoys strong brand recognition in the country, including due to India’s use of Dassault combat aircraft since the early 1950s. In 2016, the Indian Air Force acquired 36 frontline Rafale fighters from Dassault.
Elsewhere, in a joint venture with Reliance Aerospace Limited, Dassault recently began construction on a new Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited manufacturing plant in India in Nagpur, Maharashtra, that’s set for completion this year. Dassault will initially manufacture parts and component subassemblies for the in-line production Falcon line at the plant before turning attention to assembly of Falcon and Rafale aircraft.
“The unmatched ability of Falcons to combine short and long haul flights and fly out of short hard-to-reach airstrips with full range performance—even at high altitudes and extreme temperature conditions—make them perfect for Indian operating conditions,” stated Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO. “No other business jet line is more suited to local requirements.”
The Rafale Influence
Dassault has delivered roughly 2,000 business jets globally to date. In 2022, the Falcon 6X is expected to join the Falcon lineup. Taking numerous advanced features from the 8X, Dassault claims the 6X will be “the most modern, spacious, and versatile twin in the 5,000-nautical mile segment.” Offering a 5,500-nautical mile (10,186-kilometer) range, the 6X will be able to fly nonstop to London City Airport from anywhere in the Indian subcontinent.
With a 6,450-nautical mile (11,945-kilometer) range, the 8X recently earned approval to fly in demanding crosswind conditions, as well as operate at London City Airport, considered one of the world’s most restrictive airports. Dassault notes the majority of India-based orders for Falcon aircraft have been for the 8X and Falcon 7X, which launched in 2001 and offers a 5,950-nautical mile (11,020-kilometer) range.
All Falcon aircraft, especially late-generation models, benefit from Dassault’s combat aircraft experience in terms of advances in fighter aerodynamics, structural design, digital flight control, and man-machine interface, keeping the Falcons “on the cutting edge of executive aircraft technology,” Dassault states. If you are in the market for a pre-owned Dassault Aviation aircraft, you'll find a variety of options on Controller.com.
Source: Dassault Aviation