Falcon 8X makes maiden flight

Bordeaux-Merignac, France – From Dassault Aviation’s facility in Bordeaux-Merignac, Falcon 8X s/n 001 took to the skies for the first time Feb. 6, 2015, with test pilots Eric Gerard and Herve Laverne at the controls. The flagship 8X lifted off at 2:00 pm, with the first flight lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. During the flight, the airplane climbed to FL400 (12,000m) accelerating to Mach 0.80. All systems performed as expected.

 

This marks the beginning of an intensive flight test campaign which will involve three aircraft for both flight testing and certification – scheduled for mid-2016. The airplane will soon be relocated to the Dassault Aviation Flight Test Center in Istres, in Southern France. The center contains advanced monitoring and telemetry equipment. It is there that Dassault has developed sophisticated tests for its Falcons, fighter jets, and more recently, the Neuron Unmanned Combat Aircraft. Besides exploring the flight envelope and systems testing, the flight test program will include intensive endurance campaigns in order to ensure a smooth entry into service, which is expected in the second half of 2016.

 

“Throughout the flight, the Falcon 8X demonstrated excellent handling qualities, the hallmark of all Dassault Aviation aircraft,” said Gérard. “We reached each of the performance objectives set for the first mission and, in a few cases, surpassed target goals. I am confident that the remainder of the flight test program will proceed just as smoothly and feel extremely honored to fly such a handsome and well-engineered aircraft.”

 

“Today we reached a key milestone in the Falcon 8X program, and are right on target for mid-2016 certification and second half 2016 deliveries,” said Dassault Aviation Chairman/CEO Eric Trappier. “The new Falcon has been well received in the market place and already shows every sign of being a commercial and technical success.”

 

Falcon 8X s/n 02 and 03 are scheduled to take to the air in the coming months. Each will take part in the flight test program that is expected to last around 500 flight hours. Serial number three will leave midyear for the Dassault Aviation completion facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, where it will be fitted with a complete interior and undergo a stringent system test campaign.