Flight Testing Almost Over

Representatives with Dassault Falcon tell ANN that as part of a function and reliability test, Falcon 7X s/n 04 flew over 6,100 nautical miles on December 20, 2006. The aircraft took off with a crew of three and the payload equivalent of eight passengers from Istres, France at 8:07 am and landed back at Istres at 9:59 pm for a total flight time of 13 hours and 52 minutes.

But that wasn't all. After departing, the aircraft flew to Reykjavik, Iceland and back to Istres before it circled northwest again to Scotland and returned. About 2,100 lbs of fuel remained upon landing.

"This flight is another confirmation that the Falcon 7X meets its design goal especially the increased range that was announced one year ago," said Dominique Pilorget, head of the Falcon 7X flight test program. "All systems performed as expected during the flight."

Dassault says the Falcon 7X flight test program has accumulated 1,500 flight test hours, over 530 flights. Falcon 7X s/n 04 has now completed flight testing, ahead of final completion. Function and reliability testing is complete and certification flights are expected to be end shortly.

EASA and FAA certification for the Falcon 7X are expected soon, with first deliveries in the second quarter of 2007. As reported by ANN, Dassault Falcon's Little Rock (AR) Completion Center recently accepted the first two Falcon 7X trijets for completion.

FMI: www.dassaultfalcon.com