Dassault flew its Falcon 2000DX business jet for the first time on 19 June at the airframer's Bordeaux, Merignac facility. Dassault says that during the 2h 15min flight the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308C-powered aircraft reached an altitude of 41,000ft (12,500m) and a maximum speed of Mach 0.89.
The 2000DX is a shorter-range derivative of the 2000EX and will replace the original Falcon 2000 large-cabin aircraft. The $25.5 million DX "will climb directly to 41,000ft in 17min and offer a low approach speed of 210km/h [112kt], which is ideal for short-field landings.
"Operating costs are estimated to be 5% less than that Falcon 2000," says Dassault, adding that the DX was developed for customers with less extensive city pair requirements. "The 2000DX can leave New York for Washington DC and continue to San Francisco without adding fuel. Likewise, the aircraft can leave London with four passengers, pick up four more in Paris and continue to Dubai without adding fuel."
The flight-test programme is expected to take around 50h and Dassault says certification and first deliveries are scheduled for this quarter and early 2008, respectively.
Source: Flight International
