Eight moments of happiness - Dassault Falcon 8X
In early September, a shiny coin fell into my piggy bank following a flight via business aviation, it was the latest Falcon 8X. Spacious and stylish–those were my first thoughts as I set foot on the soft carpets, walking down the cabin of this real aircraft!
A few minutes of steep take-off, and a familiar picture of the cloudy distance and dark blue sky appeared in the window. Seat belts unfastened–it's time to take a walk around the cabin and learn about the range of advantages the new Falcon has to offer for the passenger! It is no mystery that safety and comfort are the priorities for every person on board. With the release of each new model, every aircraft manufacturer is trying to maximize these key factors, and to be the first in some way, albeit temporarily. The successor of the popular Falcon 7X, the new 19-seat business jet has been extended by 1 m to a 13-meter cabin, and is now the largest in terms of its fuselage (48 m3) in the Falcon family. The passenger part of the 8X is traditionally divided into three sections with a seating area and separate toilet for the crew, a kitchen unit in the front of the cabin and a full-size toilet in the tail. Dassault offers more than 30 different interior layout options, including one with an optional shower cabin.
The company's designers have done an excellent job with the interior design, using only high-quality materials for upholstery and walls. The harmony of darkness and light is not a new trend, but it's satisfying: there are no eyesores, and the cabin of the airliner looks light, airy and more spacious. The perfect composition of comfort and business practicality is completed by the interior with "miracles" of digital technology—from plasma information panels to customized interactive monitors.
The cockpit is equipped with the latest company's own Dassault EASy proprietary integrated on-board complex based on the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics with SVS and EVS features as well as a collimator display on the glass above the left seat (the company is planning a HUD for the co-pilot), FMS of the latest generation, and of course a digital flight control system. What is equally important is that the new 8X is certified to fly to the FL510 level, with cabin pressure at 41,000 feet maintained at the level of 1,200 m above sea level.
Along with improved performance of built-in devices, the new 8X has increased the range of its flights. Compared to the legendary 7X, the newcomer's range has increased by 925 km and is now 11,945 km. Thus, it has also become the French manufacturer's longest-range business jet, thanks to the upgraded version of Pratt and Whitney Canada PW307D engines (thrust is 5% greater than that of the PW307A in Falcon 7X) and the redesigned ultra-efficient wing derived from the Falcon 7X. The wing design has been upgraded to minimize the aircraft's overall drag at cruising speed and reduce its weight by 600 pounds. The wing also received an optimized profile and wing tips. These improvements have significantly increased the lift and have improved the aircraft's aerodynamic qualities. The new 8X has become less stable, and this is good for aerodynamics, since a horizontal stabilizer with a smaller installation angle is also a source of resistance. However, the relative instability is easily compensated by the computer control system. It is worth noting another advantage of the newcomer – its takeoff and landing characteristics. The 8X is capable of taking off and landing on a 6,000 foot (1829 m) runway, and has a landing speed of 106 knots/197 km/h (Falcon 7X has 104 knots). Like the Falcon 7X, the new aircraft is able to perform steep approaches with an angle of up to six degrees, which allows landing in complex airports. This is undoubtedly a huge plus.
2018 was truly a historic year for the French manufacturer Dassault, and to say the least, it can be regarded as a trendsetter in the modern aircraft industry. The new flagship 8X turns another page in the glorious history of the French aviation guru, and enters a crazy race in the ultra-long class, where it is of course the favorite.
Dassault offers over 30 layout options for the cabin.
Falcon 8X has become the longest and longest-range aircraft over the entire French manufacturer's history.