February 6th, 2015

Today Dassault Aviation completed the first flight of its first Falcon 8X business jet (Serial Number 1, tail number or registration: F-WWOA). The first Falcon 8X took off from the Bordeaux, France airport at 2:00 PM local time. The first flight test for the aircraft consisted of a climb to 5,000 feet, where the aircraft then raised its landing gear. Flight maneuvers and system testing was then accomplished at 15,000 feet. The flight test crew then took the aircraft to 40,000 feet or Flight Level 400 to have the Falcon 8X fly at Mach .80. The aircraft then landed back at the airport at 3:45 PM, a 1 hour and 45 minute test flight.

The company is expecting that the aircraft will be certified in 2016 and then delivered to customers in the second half of 2016. The next two flight test aircraft are expecting to enter into the program in the next few months. The third Falcon 8X flight test aircraft will be flying to the United States, where a full interior will be installed in Little Rock, Arkansas. The total flight testing program is expected to last 500 flight hours.

Background on the Falcon 8X
The Dassault Falcon 8X is a new long range private / business jet that was launched at EBACE in May 2014. The aircraft will be Dassault Aviation's longest range and cabin model in its current lineup. The Falcon 8X is planned to be able to fly 6,450 nautical miles at Mach .8 with eight passengers and three crew members. More information on the Falcon 8X will be posted here in the future.

Dassault Falcon 8X First Flight Photo

First Dassault Falcon 8X First Flight Taxing Photo

Above Dassault Falcon 8X photos copyright Dassault Falcon. Used under the fair use provision.