Dassault Aviation’s new Falcon 8X business jet is entering the final stages of its flight test and certification program as work proceeds to prepare the ultra-long range trijet for initial delivery.
FAA and EASA certification of the 6,450 nautical mile/11,945km 8X is expected by mid 2016 and entry into service by late summer. The three aircraft in the flight test program have nearly completed all certification test requirements, and to date have accumulated over 650 flight hours in 325 flights.
After undergoing thermal, acoustic and cabin amenity testing at the Little Rock Completion Center in Arkansas, USA, test aircraft 03, the first 8X equipped with a fully fitted interior, returned to the Istres Flight Test Center near Marseille, France, earlier in March to prepare for cold soak trials. Intended to demonstrate aircraft system functionality under extreme weather conditions, the soak trial campaign was conducted at Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, on the northwestern shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay, from March 9-11.
All systems, including avionics and electrical, hydraulic and digital flight control systems, performed flawlessly during the tests despite temperatures that dipped as low as -27°F (-33°C). All cabin systems were successfully tested on ground after APU startup and cabin warm-up. Full capability under extreme cold conditions was also demonstrated in flight at the end of the campaign.
Falcon 8X test aircraft 03 will now begin a global test campaign to demonstrate aircraft operational reliability and performance in different conditions of flight. The month-long campaign will take the aircraft through Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North and South America, and will include more than 60 missions of various lengths representing the extremes of what Falcon 8X customers might expect to face during their aircraft’s operational life. The campaign will focus particular attention on cabin equipment and functionalities and other high-speed communications systems during long, intercontinental flights and flights over remote areas.
April 1, 2016
