When Dassault Aviation premiered the concept for its newest ultra-long-haul jet nearly five years ago, the ambitious program connected the voice of the customer supporting this sector with the motivation and commitment of the OEM’s shareholders, including the Dassault family. They brought in seasoned aviation journalist and pilot Miles O’Brien to lead the unveiling and interview M. Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO, on the concept.
On March 10, Dassault hosted more than 400 friends and colleagues, customers, partners, and the press at a gala once more hosted by Miles at the Bordeaux-Merignac Airport (LFBD).
Seeing the spectacle in real life rather than on YouTube makes all the difference. For one, you can actually taste the Michelin-starred hors d’oeuvres and sip your own glass of Chateau Dassault 2020.
On the main stage? The Falcon 10X, straight off of the production line, ready to show off its super-wide cross section, dipped nose, continuous-sweep wings, and curved wingtips. She’s a statuesque beauty, and she only gets better looking up close. In fact, the 10X rolled out for the crowd is Number 2 from the line, and the first one in paint. Number 1 will make the first test flight, and it remained sequestered and probably stuffed full of testing and telemetry gear waiting for its grand moment. Two other production units will be outfitted with customer interiors and launch on a globe-trotting journey similar to the one taken by the Falcon 6X before its certification.
With the highest total cabin volume for a purpose-built business jet (that leaves out the Boeing BBJ and the Airbus ACJ) of 2,780 cubic feet, the 10X follows the Dassault philosophy of balancing agility, speed, and spaciousness, with a range of 7,500 nm and top speed of Mach 0.925.
In an upcoming feature, we’ll get to the bottom of why Dassault chose to target those figures, balancing the interior roominess with maximum range and speed less than that of the now-flying Bombardier Global 8000 (8,000 nm and Mach 0.95 as announced at NBAA last fall). We’ll also delve into the NeXus flight deck, the evolution of the EASy II with Falcon Eye combo SVS/EVS and the digital flight control system (DFCS) tried and tested in Dassault’s Rafale fighter. The 10X has not yet flown, and there was no indication yet of when that would take place—except to say “soon.”
Falcons are beautiful aircraft that get their performance from aerodynamic design rather than from brute thrust. This makes them more efficient if that is still a thought in the purchase of such aircraft.
Keep buying those lottery tickets!
If I had the money the only biz jet I would buy is a Falcon, they are hell for stout.
“It’s only a Mirage”