Dassault Falcon is making steady progress towards a planned first flight in early 2021 for its latest and most spacious aircraft, the Falcon 6X, despite disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Bringing the Falcon 6X to market on schedule is a top priority for the company. Our planning and production team has been diligent and resourceful in adapting procedures to new health guidelines to keep this program running smoothly.” said Dassault Aviation President and CEO Eric Trappier.
“Our suppliers have also gone to extraordinary lengths to us. We are grateful to all of them.” The first of three pre-production aircraft that will participate in flight certification has been powered up and entered ground testing.
Aircraft numbers 2 and 3 are in advanced stages of assembly and the production of long-cycle parts for series production has already started. Certification and entry into service are set for 2022, as per the original schedule.
The second aircraft recently had its wings attached to the fuselage and the third aircraft is in the early stages of final assembly. Each will be heavily instrumented and, like aircraft number 1, will be capable of performing aerodynamic, performance and systems tests.
Aircraft number 3 will receive a complete interior to evaluate systems functionality, acoustics, airflow, comfort and other factors. Interior furnishings, environmental systems, electronics and other equipment are currently being tested in a ground rig prior to installation on the aircraft.
Electrical, hydraulic and fuel system tests have been completed and testing of the Falcon 6X's advanced digital flight control system has begun. The ground fatigue and damage tolerance tests were also started. This test cycle will later be extended to include stress tests up to maximum load limits and beyond.
The Falcon 6X sets a new industry benchmark for cabin comfort, long-range performance and flight efficiency. It offers the largest cabin cross-section of any purpose-built commercial jet (1,98m high by 2,58m wide) and its range capability of 5.500 nautical miles allows it to
it connects long-haul routes like Paris to Tokyo or Los Angeles to Moscow.
The new twin-engine jet is also equipped with the latest innovative technologies, including a new-generation Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) that provides unmatched in-flight maneuverability. The new DFCS controls all moving surfaces, including a new multifunctional control area called a “flaperon”, adapted from the Dassault fighter aircraft.
PW812D engine program also on target
Assembly of Falcon 6X engines is being done in parallel with aircraft production.
The aircraft's advanced Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D engine completed an initial air test campaign earlier this year aboard Pratt & Whitney's Boeing 747 test aircraft and a second series of flight tests is scheduled for this summer.
To date, the PW812D has accumulated over 200 hours in the air and over 1.600 hours on the ground. It also completed initial certification tests, including bird attack, ice ingestion and blade-off tests.
The PW1200G mid-engine shared by the PW812D has accumulated over 16.000 operating hours. The PW800 Series exceeds ICAO standards for NOx emissions by a double-digit margin and generates ultra-low levels of unburned hydrocarbons and smoke. The PW812D will meet future CO2 regulations and achieve Stage 4 noise requirements by a significant margin.
Production operations at Bordeaux-Merignac, 's main assembly facility, are now back to normal after a brief interruption due to the COVID-19 crisis. The company used the time to work out safer procedures with smaller teams on the production floor, now working two shifts again.
Dassault's flight test team is currently coordinating with EASA and the FAA to finalize the flight test and validation program.
For more information on Dassault Falcon business jets, visit www.dassaultfalcon.com
