FALCON 10X ACTIVITY RAMPS UP

After its grand unveiling in a virtual ceremony in May 2021, the Falcon 10X is virtual no more. Major structures and systems are under construction across Europe and North America. The detailed design of the aircraft is nearly complete, and Dassault factories are moving into high gear. A first all-composite wing is in final assembly and is ready for testing at Dassault in Bordeaux-Mérignac. First engines and avionics are also undergoing tests, as are subsystems, from landing gear components to environmental controls. All of these will flow into the Mérignac facility, where final assembly begins in 2023. Certification is planned for late 2025.

FLIGHT TESTING BEGINS BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT FLIES

In new aircraft programs, systems testing begins on the ground in structures resembling simulators, sometimes called "iron birds." Dassault calls them "test benches," and several are already in use. An avionics test bench equipped with the revolutionary NeXus flight deck and a new-generation Digital Flight Control System is running at the Design Office in Saint-Cloud near Paris. There's a fuel test bench at the Istres test center and a new environmental bench in Bordeaux. The objective is to ensure systems maturity before the first test aircraft flies.

THE NEXT BIG STEP IN DIGITAL FLIGHT CONTROL

With a head start on competitors thanks to more than 40 years of fighter aircraft systems development, Dassault arguably produces the most advanced digital flight controls in business aviation. That history began with the Falcon 7X, the first fly-by-wire business jet, which first flew in 2005. Updated on the 8X, it took a generational leap with the 6X, adding secondary surfaces to the system (flaps, slats, airbrakes and flaperons, plus nose wheel steering). The 10X pioneers a unique Smart Throttle that ties into the digital flight control system and makes possible new capabilities such as automated noise abatement climbs, reducing workload in the critical takeoff phase. Another direct transfer from fighters: an automated recovery mode, should the aircraft enter an unusual attitude in a wake turbulence encounter, for example. No other business jet has anything like it.

> Try out the new flight deck features

PEARL 10X ENGINE IS PURRING ALONG

The Pearl 10X is the most powerful in the new Pearl series at over 18,000 pounds thrust. It’s the most powerful Rolls-Royce business jet engine to date, and the most advanced. The first engine surpassed target thrust levels on its first test stand run at the Rolls facility in Dahlewitz, Germany. It has been tested for over 1,000 hours, including runs on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. Current jets are limited to 50 percent SAF. But the SAF age is just beginning, with greater quantities to come at more places and lower prices.

> Watch the powerful video

TOUR THE 10X FLIGHT DECK AND CABIN

Passing through Little Rock, Arkansas, or Paris-Le Bourget? Dassault is ready to give prospective buyers a Falcon 10X interior tour. At the Paris showroom, the mockup is modular, allowing the interiors team to reconfigure the cabin over a short lunch or a long coffee break to show alternative arrangements. It demonstrates the 10X's section length modularity, allowing for such things as intimate entertainment centers or extra-long staterooms. Better for designing one's penthouse in the sky and for maximum range configurations.

ANOTHER FALCON AWARD

The awards keep coming for Falcon aircraft. This time for the Falcon 10X, which recently won a coveted Red Dot award for interior design. A Red Dot Award is among the most distinguished prizes in the design world and a highly sought-after honor. In other good news, the Robb Report, which reviews premium products for high-net-worth individuals, has named the Falcon 10X the Best of the Best in Ultra-Long-Range Jets. It was cited for its largest-in-class interior, extended range and speed, and innovative technology.

GENEVA HOSTS TWO EBACE DEBUTS

The Falcon 10X mockup had a hugely successful debut at NBAA-BACE 2021 and most recently at the EBACE convention in Geneva. Its sheer volume and elegant design were the talk of the show. Also debuting at EBACE was a fully completed Falcon 6X which now embarks on a route-proving world tour. You can see both at the October NBAA-BACE in Orlando and the Dubai Airshow in December.

> The "Runway Girl" 10X review