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

Dassault Aviation (Chalet A27-A29) is highlighting its military and&nbsp;business jets at the Dubai Airshow, including a Rafale C combat aircraft,&nbsp;the Falcon 900LX and 8X, and&nbsp;a mockup of the upcoming 6X's cabin. The Rafale is being&nbsp;presented by the French Armeé De L'Air &amp; De L'Espace (air&nbsp;and space force), which operates a detachment of the fighters at the UAE’s Al Dhafra Air Base, and visitors can watch it taking part in the daily flying display.

 


Dassault has partnered&nbsp;with the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) since the Mirage 5 era in the 1970s, according to the French airframer. The UAEAF operates a fleet of Mirage 2000-9s, now being modernized with Dassault’s support.

 


On the business aviation side, many Middle East operators fly Falcon business jets, Dassault noted, and Dubai serves as one of the key locations for Falcon maintenance network. The network&nbsp;now includes many new locations,&nbsp;following the company’s acquisition of the ExecuJet MRO and TAG MRO businesses in 2019 and 2020.

 


While the three-engine Falcon 8X anchors Dassault's&nbsp;business aircraft display at the Dubai Airshow, the company is also promoting its forthcoming new models, the twin-engine Falcon 6X and 10X widebody bizjets. The&nbsp;full-scale 6X cabin&nbsp;showcases&nbsp;the comforts of what Dassault calls “the most spacious, modern, and versatile twin-engine aircraft in its class.”

 


Three test articles of the 5,500-nm range 6X participate in the flight test program, and the Pratt &amp; Whitney&nbsp;recently completed certification testing of the 6X’s PW812D engine.

 


The Falcon 10X, introduced during an online virtual unveiling in May 2020 and slated to enter service in late 2025, will offer a range of 7,500 nm and be&nbsp;capable of reaching any destination in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, or the U.S. West Coast from the Gulf region. With a top speed of Mach 0.925, the 10X cabin will measure&nbsp;6 feet, 8 inches&nbsp;high by 9 feet, 1 inch&nbsp;wide.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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