Dassault Falcon 6X
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 22, 1929 in France |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Key people | (Not specified) |
| Products | Falcon 6X business jet, Falcon 5X (discontinued) |
| Website | www |
The Dassault Falcon 6X is a large, long-distance business jet engineered by Dassault Aviation in France. It follows the Falcon 5X, which was introduced in 2013, rolled out in 2015, and conducted its maiden flight on July 5, 2017. However, development was discontinued due to difficulties with its Safran Silvercrest engines. In December 2017, Dassault initiated the Falcon 6X project as an extended variant equipped with PW812D turbofan engines; its first flight took place on 10 March 2021, and it entered operational service on 30 November 2023.
This model boasts the widest cabin purpose-built for business jets at , combined with a wing designed to support a maximum takeoff weight of , powered by two engines. It offers a range of and can reach speeds up to Mach 0.90.
Falcon 5X
The design process commenced in 2006 under the codename SMS (super-midsize), aiming to rival aircraft such as the Hawker 4000, Bombardier Challenger 300, and Gulfstream G200, with an initial target range of . Early concepts included twin Rolls-Royce RB282 engines.
Following the downturn in super midsize jet demand caused by the Great Recession, Dassault shifted focus in 2009 toward larger cabins and extended-range jets, prompting a reassessment of engine choices. The Falcon 5X was publicly revealed in October 2013, powered by two Snecma Silvercrest engines. Nonetheless, ongoing technical challenges with the Silvercrest delayed its certification from late-2013 until late-2017, consequently postponing the aircraft’s entry into service from 2017 to beyond 2020.
On January 29, 2016, Dassault announced a production halt and a two-year delay due to persistent Silvercrest engine issues—the same problems affecting the Cessna Citation Hemisphere. After nearly three years of setbacks and cancellations during 2016, Dassault pursued compensation from Safran.
In early 2017, ground testing was completed and the Falcon 5X performed its inaugural flight on July 5 using preliminary engines to accelerate development. Full certification flights with finalized engines were planned for 2018 to support type certification and target entry into service by 2020.
By October 2017, the prototype had accumulated around 50 flight hours concentrating on systems functionality and handling characteristics. However, Safran identified high-pressure compressor malfunctions occurring at high altitudes and low speeds during testing, threatening further delays. Dassault did not rule out changing engine suppliers. The prototype achieved Mach 0.8 at an altitude of 41,000 ft before the program was suspended.
Falcon 6X
On December 13, 2017, Dassault terminated the Falcon 5X program due to unresolved Silvercrest engine complications and announced the Falcon 6X project featuring the same fuselage diameter but powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW800 engines. This new model offers a range of and aimed for introduction in 2022. The PW800 family was already utilized on the Gulfstream G500/G600 jets.
Revealed in February 2018, the Falcon 6X was slated for its first flight in early 2021 with deliveries planned for the following year. Dassault also envisioned a larger variant with extended range to compete against aircraft like the Bombardier Global 7500 and Gulfstream G650ER. In September 2018, Dassault resolved disputes with Safran, resulting in Safran paying $280 million in damages.
By late 2018, assembly began on critical airframe components. The PW812D engines underwent extensive testing through early 2019; design freeze was achieved by May with assembly anticipated during 2020. By October that year, fuselage sections were completed and joined with wings in early 2020.
The Falcon 6X was officially unveiled on December 8, 2020, followed by its maiden flight on March 10, 2021. On November 30, 2021, Transport Canada certified the PW812 engine after over 4,900 hours of testing, enabling on-time service entry scheduled for late-2022.
Cold weather evaluations conducted in Canada concluded by March 2022; test aircraft had logged more than 650 flight hours. Nevertheless, supply chain interruptions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions postponed entry into service until mid-2023. The list price for a fully equipped Falcon 6X in that year stood at $53.8 million.
In August of 2023, both the Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency granted type certification to the Falcon 6X, which officially began service on November 30, 2023. The first Part 91 Falcon 6X was delivered within the United States by late 2024.
Design
The Falcon 6X advances the aerodynamic and system foundations of the Falcon 5X, which were honed during its initial flight testing phase, but it is specifically tailored around the PW812D engines. This configuration allows for a more spacious cabin and an increased operational range, achieving a maximum speed of Mach 0.90 and a cruise speed of Mach 0.85. The cabin dimensions are , high, and wide—making it the most spacious among purpose-designed business jets—and it can accommodate up to 16 passengers across three distinct zones, featuring 29 windows including one above the galley.
An extension to the forward fuselage adds to the cabin’s length. The Falcon 6X maintains the Falcon 5X’s innovative wing architecture and digital flight control system, integrated with the Honeywell Primus Epic EASy III avionics suite. The new engine fans measure in diameter, smaller than those on Gulfstream models, and incorporate four low-pressure turbine stages instead of five, which contributes to an approximate weight reduction of in the engines.
The aircraft’s empty weight increases by (5.7%), rising from about to accommodate the heavier engines, upgraded fuel systems, and reinforced structures. A significant first for Dassault with this model is the integration of a nitrogen inerting system.
Specifications
| Model | Falcon 5X | Falcon 6X | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 16 | |||
| Length | 25.2 m (83 ft) | 25.68 m (84.3 ft) | ||
| Height | 7.5 m (25 ft) | 7.47 m (24.5 ft) | ||
| Wingspan | 25.9 m (85 ft) | 25.94 m (85.1 ft) | ||
| Wing area | 72.4 m2 (779 sq ft) | 70.7 m2 (761 sq ft) | ||
| Wing aspect ratio | 9.27 | 9.52 | ||
| Max Takeoff Weight | 31,570 kg (69,600 lb) | 35,135 kg (77,459 lb) | ||
| Empty Weight | 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) | [convert: invalid number] | ||
| Fuel Capacity | [convert: invalid number] | |||
| Turbofan | 2 × Snecma Silvercrest | 2 × P&WC PW812D | ||
| Thrust | 2 × [convert: invalid number] | 2 × [convert: invalid number][lower-alpha 1] | ||
| Max Speed | [convert: invalid number] | |||
| Long Range cruise | ||||
| Ceiling | [convert: invalid number] | |||
| Range | [convert: invalid number][lower-alpha 2] | [convert: invalid number] | ||
| Balanced Takeoff | [convert: invalid number][lower-alpha 3] | |||
| Landing | [convert: invalid number][lower-alpha 4] | |||
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