Dassault Aviation Completes Maiden Flight Of Falcon 10X Business Jet
Dassault Aviation’s all-new Falcon 10X, designed to be the largest dedicated business jet in service, moved a step closer to certification after completing its maiden flight on June 19 at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in France.
The two-and-a-half-hour flight allowed pilots Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin and Fabrice Dougnac to evaluate the 19-passenger aircraft's handling qualities and systems at 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) before climbing to 40,000 ft (12,192 m) and reaching Mach 0.82.
A New Phase Begins
Dassault Aviation introduced the Falcon 10X in 2021. The company has now entered a two-year certification program that will feature two additional test aircraft, one outfitted with a complete interior and used primarily for systems and cabin functional and reliability testing.
“This inaugural flight is another milestone for Dassault,” said Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier. “It is a reflection of the dedication and high skill of our engineering, production, and flight teams, and also the quality of our global network of partners. All of us are excited to see this day as we launch into a new phase for the 10X.”
Powerful Performance
The Falcon 10X utilizes two Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X engines, which deliver more than 18,000 pounds of thrust each. Dassault Aviation says they are the latest, largest, and most powerful engines within the Pearl series. The business jet also incorporates all-composite wings that help save roughly 900 lbs. (408 kilograms) and create a thinner, more aerodynamically optimized design than is possible with a metal wing, the company notes.
These and other factors combine to give the 10X a maximum range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,890 kilometers) at Mach 0.85 with eight passengers—enough range to make “almost every city pair a nonstop flight,” including New York City to Shanghai, Los Angeles to Sydney, Paris to Santiago, and São Paulo to Dubai, says Dassault Aviation. The aircraft has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925.
The Roomiest Cabin Of All
The Falcon 10X will also offer what the company maintains is the largest, most comfortable, and most versatile cabin ever in a dedicated business jet. Measuring 9.1 ft (2.77 m) wide and 6.7 ft (2 m) tall, the cabin has a volume of 2,780 cubic ft (79 cubic m). It’s almost 8 inches (20 centimeters) wider than its competitors, according to Dassault Aviation.
The jet can maintain a 3,000-ft (914-m) cabin pressure at a 41,000-ft (12,497-m) cruising altitude and has a maximum certified altitude of 51,000 ft (15,545 m).
Customers can configure the cabin with three or four living zones, each with its own temperature control. Dassault Aviation says possibilities include an expanded dining/conference area, an entertainment area with a large-screen monitor, a private stateroom with a true queen-size bed, and a private suite with a stand-up shower.
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