Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Dassault Falcon 8X performs longest flight yet

The Dassault Falcon 8X performed its longest flight to date earlier this month when a demonstration aircraft flew nonstop between Singapore and London.

The ultra-long-range jet has a range of 6,450nm (11,945km), which Dassault says enables it “to comfortably fly ultra-long intercontinental routes from Asia to Europe in a single hop”.

Since entering service last October the 8X has undergone a number of upgrades, most recently including approvals to operate flights in severe crosswind conditions and at the restrictive London City airport.

The 8X will also provide in-flight connectivity to passengers through Inmarsat’s JetConneX Ka-band satellite-based high-speed broadband service. Honeywell’s JetWave antennas can be installed on all in-production Falcon Jet aircraft, including the 8X.

Initial installations are already under way, with first deliveries scheduled to begin in the summer. JetWave will also be available as a retrofit on in-service aircraft and as an upgrade option on aircraft already equipped with other satellite communications systems.

“The smooth introduction of our new Falcon 8X, combined with its reinforced operational capabilities, suggests it will be a big success in the marketplace,” says Dassault Aviation chief executive Eric Trappier. “This bodes well not only for the future of the programme but, most importantly, for the operational benefits it will bring to our customers.”

(Kerry Reals - FlightGlobal News)

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