Gilbert Sedbon/PARIS
DASSAULT AVIATION's new Falcon 900EX long-range business jet had a successful first flight from Bordeaux-Merignac Airport on 1 June.
The aircraft reached an altitude of 41,000ft (13,600m) and a speed of Mach 0.82 during its 2h flight. "The aircraft behaved beautifully," says test pilot Guy Mitaux-Maurouard. "All the systems and the three new AlliedSignal TFE 731-60 engines worked perfectly well."
The 900EX underwent several further test flights before its public debut at the Paris air show, which opened on 10 June.
The launch customer is US-based Sony America. First delivery is due in mid-1996, following European Joint Aviation Authorities and US Federal Aviation Administration certification, which is scheduled for March 1996.
The range of the aircraft (with eight passengers) of 8,300km (4,500nm) gives the Falcon 900EX a 900km advantage over the Falcon 900B variant of the aircraft, while retaining the same large cabin.
The business jet has Honeywell Primus 2000 avionics, which include a five-tube electronic flight-instrument system. Dual flight-management systems are standard and a Flight Dynamics head-up display is offered as an option.
Source: Flight International
