A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

The “extra wide body” Falcon 6X, scheduled to enter service in mid-2023, is now in its final stage of flight trials, Dassault Aviation said Monday at NBAA-BACE 2022. In addition, the French airframer is presenting a fully outfitted 6X on static display this week at the show.

 


According to Dassault (Booth 2435, Static AD_204), the 6X has the tallest and widest cabin of any purpose-built business jet. And the model on display, the fourth airframe built, completed a round-the-world demonstration tour in July, showcasing the aircraft’s maturity and reliability. The twinjet made 50 flights over five continents and logged 150 hours, flying up to five times per day during the tour.

 


“Pilots gave all systems, including new features of the EASy IV flight deck, high marks and assessed performance as ‘spot on,’” said Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier.

 


Three test aircraft taking part in the certification process have now concluded hot-weather trials in the Tunisian desert at temperatures of up to 118 deg F, cold soak trials in northern Canada at temperatures as low as -36 deg F, and high-elevation trials at Telluride, Colorado.

 


During the trials, the twinjet “distinguished itself as an extremely remarkable aircraft, sailing through its certification campaign,” said Trappier.

 


The Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PW812D engine that powers the 6X received EASA certification in August and FAA approval is pending. A full flight simulator has entered operation at CAE Burgess Hill in the UK, with training slated to commence in April.

 


Meanwhile, the 19th Falcon 6X is on the final assembly line and three customer aircraft are in completion at the Dassault interior facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.

 


Also on display this week at Dassault’s chalet at Orlando Executive Airport is a Falcon 8X and 2000LXS, as well as a mockup of the Falcon 10X. A 7,500-nm-range jet with a composite wing, the 10X will feature an even wider and taller cabin than the 6X. On track for a 2025 service entry, the first wing has been completed and assembly of a full fuselage is expected by year-end.

 


Trappier reported Dassault took net orders for 41 Falcons in the first half of this year, compared with 25 in the same year-ago period. He called the backlog, which grew to €34 billion ($33.5 billion) from €20.7 billion a year ago “historically strong.”

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