Dassault Aviation (booth 277) has announced that its Falcon 7X trijet, which is making its NBAA debut, could see its range increase to 6,000nm (11,100km).
This morning Dassault revealed that it is evaluating enhancements that could significantly increase the range of the 7X, from the previously forecasted 5,700nm. “The Falcon 7X range could approach 6,000nm at Mach 0.80,” says Charles Edelstenne,” chairman and chief executive of Dassault Aviation. He adds that tests have also seen speeds increase to M0.92, but final results will be shared with customers in a couple of weeks.
Edelstenne says that such developments have pushed sales to record levels, leaving an order backlog of four years for a 7X. “Customers have put their trust in us to deliver all that we promised for the first real business jet of the 21st century. The innovative design and technological advances have proven to have tremendous market acceptance. We expect to pass 70 firm orders by the end of this year,” he says.
The company says there are 30 7Xs in various stages of production, with number six now in final assembly.
On Sunday the third certification 7X, which is undergoing endurance and comfort tests, broke away from its program to make its first public appearance at the NBAA static.
The $40 million third certification aircraft flew from Teterboro airport, New Jersey, where it landed in the USA for the first time the previous evening.
Designed to carry eight passengers and three crew at a cruising speed of M0.8, Dassault says the key to the 7X’s impressive range is its high-transonic wing. Other benefits include a platform that is 44% larger than the Falcon 900EX with a 5% higher sweep.
The new Falcon was rolled out of the French manufacturer’s Bordeaux facility in February, and is claimed to be the first-ever commercial aircraft to be designed in an entirely virtual environment.
Dassault assures customers that even though the 7X’s lift-to-drag ratio is 30% higher than the current generation Falcon wing, low-speed performance is maintained, offering a landing speed of 104kt (192km/h).
More than 300 of the 1,200 flying hours required for US and European certification have taken place and the company is looking to a certification and first delivery date for the end of 2006.
Source: Flight Daily News
