Joins Flight Test Program

Falcon 7X s/n 02 (registration F-WTDA) flew for the first time Tuesday from Dassault's facility in Bordeaux-Merignac, France with test pilots Philippe Deleume and Jean-Louis Dumas at the controls. The flight took off at 1407 local time in ideal conditions and lasted 2 hours 15 minutes.

"The second aircraft is responding and flying exactly as the first," said Philippe Deleume, Falcon Chief Test Pilot. "This is further proof of the extraordinary job our engineers have done in designing this revolutionary aircraft."

During the flight, the landing gear was cycled and acceleration/deceleration tests were performed. The fly-by-wire system was tested in normal, alternate and direct modes. All flight systems were checked in manual and auto modes. The airplane was ferried to the flight test center in Istres, France today. It will be primarily used for systems certification.

With the most recent flight, the Falcon 7X test program has reached 27 flights and 65 flight hours. The flight envelope continues to expand and MMO (.90 mach) and VMO (370 KIAS) have been reached.

Falcon 7X s/n 03 will join the flight test program in September. It will be used for long range and endurance tests as well as interior sound level validation. The structure for Falcon 7X s/n 04 is fully assembled in Bordeaux with system and equipment installation underway.

To date, five pilots have flown the 7X including one representing the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Approximately 1,200 flight test hours have been allotted before final certification by the FAA and EASA in late 2006. A static and fatigue test airframe has been undergoing tests at CEAT in Toulouse since March.

FMI: www.dassaultfalcon.com