Dassault Aviation rolls out first Falcon 5X

Dassault Aviation has lifted the veil on the highly anticipated Falcon 5X, which establishes a new benchmark in the large cabin, long-range business aviation market.

Presented at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Mérignac final assembly facility before an audience of 400 customers, operators, suppliers and certification authority representatives, the 5X will offer the largest cabin cross-section of any purpose built business jet. And its 5,200 nm (9,630 km) range will permit it to connect the majority of the world’s most heavily travelled city pairs.

The new twinjet will be more fuel-efficient than any other business jet in its category and will feature an approach speed of 105 knots – down in the turboprop range – offering more airport options for business jet operators.

Announced at the National Business Aviation Association Convention in Las Vegas in October 2013, the Falcon 5X will be equipped with a new ultra-efficient wing, an advanced digital flight control system derived from the Rafale fighter jet and a brand new Snecma Silvercrest engine offering 15 per cent better fuel-efficiency than any other powerplant in its thrust class.

Other new features include a redesigned cockpit equipped with the third generation of Dassault’s award winning EASy flight deck and state-of-the-art aircraft and engine health monitoring systems.

“The Falcon 5X was designed to answer operator demand for an aircraft in the 5,000 nm range that could provide more space and comfort than existing large body jets while combining the handling qualities, the low speed performance and operating economics which are the hallmark of Falcons,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “Customers have already responded to the new aircraft with enthusiasm and we expect it to become every bit as popular as the 7X, the fastest selling Falcon we’ve ever built.”

Final assembly and testing of the Falcon 5X is taking place at the Mérignac facility near Bordeaux (France), which has seen the delivery of more than 8,000 Dassault civil and military aircraft, including 2,300 Falcons, since it opened in 1949.