Dassault Aviation gears up for Falcon 10X initial subassembly production

With parts manufacture now in full swing, Dassault Aviation (Paris, France) is gearing up to produce initial subassemblies for the Falcon 10X, which will set a new standard in the ultra-long range business jet segment, as reported by Airframer. 

Long-lead items, including the landing gear, have been manufactured and are ready for assembly. A first fully representative composite wing is also being prepared for static and fatigue testing. Development of the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce (Paris, France) Pearl 10X engine is progressing as well, demonstrating that it will meet its performance requirements with more than 1,000 test hours logged, including runs on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Ground tests of the first complete power plant, including its new nacelle and engine build up (EBU) are in preparation.

Moreover, Rolls-Royce recently broke ground on a new production support facility adjacent to the aircraft final assembly line in Bordeaux-Mérignac, France. The flight test campaign for the Pearl 10X will take place on a Rolls-Royce flying test bed, scheduled to begin in 2023.

 

Ground testing

With the Falcon 10X, Dassault says it is taking a new approach to ground testing, which will be used to demonstrate the maturity of all systems well before the aircraft even takes to the air.

Two multi-system test benches at the company’s Istres, France, flight test center will be used for the extensive ground test campaign. The benches are nearly identical and each is equipped with a full flight deck and subsystems computer suites representative of those used on the actual aircraft. They will verify proper functioning of avionics, engine controls, flight controls, hydraulics, electrical distribution, braking, fire protection and other aircraft systems.

A third test bench, at Dassault Aviation’s Saint-Cloud headquarters (outside Paris), replicates the flight deck and flight control system.

Meanwhile, Dassault Aviation’s new Falcon 6X is entering the final phase of its certification flight test campaign with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), setting the stage for the extra widebody twin to enter service in mid-2023.

“The 6X has distinguished itself as a remarkable aircraft, sailing through its certification campaign and consistently wowing pilots and engineers with its flawless performance,” Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier says. “It will soon be impressing customers, too.”

The 19th Falcon 6X is currently on the final assembly line and three customer aircraft are in completion at the Dassault interior facility in Little Rock, Ark., U.S. 

For information on the Falcon 6X flight trials, read more here.