(03 Feb 2022)
Dassault Aviation has confirmed that it will exhibit its Falcon 8X
long-range trijet and Falcon 2000LXS at the Singapore Air Show.
Also on show at the
Dassault static display will be a full-scale mockup of its
Falcon
6X extra-widebody twin, soon to enter service.
The air show
will also be an ideal opportunity for customers to appreciate the
unique capabilities of the company’s ultra-long
range Falcon 10X, set to join the fleet in 2025.
“Singapore’s
dynamism and geographic location make it an ideal venue for
showcasing the cutting edge business jets that we offer,” said
Dassault Aviation Chairman/CEO, Eric Trappier. “We saw great sales
activity in the Asia Pacific region last year, especially in
Australasia and Southeast Asia, and significant interest across
our entire product line.”
Luxurious interior of a Dassault Falcon 10X
The 6,450 nm (11,945 km) Falcon
8X has been a leading seller in the Asia/Pacific since the first
aircraft was delivered in the region five years ago. The 8X can
fly non-stop from Hong Kong to London, Singapore to Zurich or
Beijing to New York yet is still capable of landing at challenging airports
such as London
City. The aircraft’s spacious cabin is one of the quietest of any
business jets on the market.
The 4,000 nm (7,410 km) Falcon
2000LXS has also proven popular with corporate customers in the
Asia Pacific region, with more than 40 of the versatile twins
currently in service in the region. The 2000LXS can fly non-stop from Singapore to Sydney or
Singapore to Dubai.
Equipped with a cabin 2.58 m (102 inches)
wide, 1.98 m (6 feet 6 inches) high and 12.30 m (40 feet 4 inches)
long, the 5,500 nm (10,200 km) Falcon 6X will fly non-stop from
Singapore to Johannesburg, Beijing to San Francisco, or London to
Los Angeles. Its advanced technological features include a
new-generation Digital Flight Control System designed to control
all moving surfaces. In addition to the superior robustness,
flying qualities and airport performance typical to the Falcon
line, the 6X features the quietest, widest and tallest cabin of
any purpose built business jet currently flying.
Falcon 6X
development is proceeding smoothly and the aircraft is on target
for certification and entry into service by the end of 2022. To
date, the three flight test aircraft have cumulated nearly 600
flight hours. First cold soak trials campaign was recently
completed and high-speed trials, which test the aircraft beyond
its maximum operating speed, are currently underway. The
aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D engine received Canadian
certification late last year, with EASA and FAA certification
expected to follow shortly.
A fourth production aircraft
equipped with a full interior will fly at the end of the first
quarter and undertake a round-the-world campaign intended to
demonstrate the full maturity of aircraft systems at entry into
service. The tour will include multiple stops in the Asia Pacific
region. Assembly of other aircraft is in full swing.
Aircraft no.
5 was delivered to Dassault’s Little Rock, Arkansas completion
center on 28 January 2022.
The cabin of the ultra-long range
Falcon 10X will be 2.77 m (9
feet 1 inch) wide, 2.03 m (6 feet 8 inches) high and 16.4 m (53
feet 10 inches) long— even larger than some regional jets.
The
7,500 nm (13,890 km) range aircraft will fly nonstop from
Singapore to London or San Francisco, Shanghai to New York, or
Sydney to Los Angeles. It will be equipped with a number of new
technologies, including a further iteration of Dassault’s
innovative Digital Flight Control System and an ultra-efficient,
all-composite wing.
Detailed design for the new jet is now
complete and parts production will begin this year. The company is
building two new facilities to manufacture parts and components
and the composite wing, including a Factory 4.0 smart
manufacturing facility near Paris.
The 10X will be powered by the
latest and most powerful variant of Rolls Royce’s ultra-efficient
18,000+ pounds thrust Pearl engine. The first engine test run is
scheduled for later this year. The 10X will enter into service in
late 2025.
MRO Service in Asia Pacific
Meanwhile, Dassault Aviation has been reinforcing
the level of maintenance, repair and overhaul service available
for the 100-plus Falcons now operating in the Asia Pacific region.
The company’s wholly owned ExecuJet MRO Services unit,
acquired in 2019, is building a 144,000 sq. ft. facility in Kuala
Lumpur that will more than double capacity at that location.
Equipped to handle line and heavy maintenance for the new Falcon
6X and Falcon 10X as well as current in-production and legacy
Falcon models, this facility will open in the second half of 2023.
The Kuala Lumpur base recently performed its first C-check on
a Falcon 2000LXS, joining ExecuJet MRO facilities in Perth, Sydney
and Dubai that are already authorized to perform heavy maintenance
on Falcon 2000 and Falcon 900 aircraft.
In the second quarter of
this year, ExecuJet MRO will open a 163,000 sq. ft. heavy
maintenance base at Dubai World Central, adjacent to a recently
opened line maintenance base.
The Singapore Air Show 2022 is scheduled to open on 15
February.
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