Second Falcon 6X Takes To The Skies

Less than two months after Dassault Aviation’s first Falcon 6X widebody twinjet took to the skies, a second aircraft has joined the flight-test campaign. Flight-test aircraft S/N 2 completed its inaugural flight on April 30, flying for two hours, climbing to FL400, and reaching a cruise speed of Mach 0.85.

The initial flight-test vehicle flew for the first time on March 10, and the third, which will have a finished interior, is expected to join the program in the third quarter. That latter aircraft will test cabin systems and amenities, galley equipment, entertainment systems, and options such as high-speed Ka-band Internet capability. The first production aircraft, S/N 4, will be completed to a typical customer configuration and sent on a global tour.

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Dassault’s Falcon 6X Flies For the First Time

The large-cabin business jet will be able to make intercontinental trips as long as 5,500 nautical miles when it enters service in 2022.

“We are very pleased with the progress of the Falcon 6X test program and remain confident of meeting its target 2022 certification date,” said Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier, adding that both 6X flying test aircraft are “performing as expected and showing a high level of systems maturity for this phase of the program.” Several Dassault test pilots have now flown the Falcon 6X, he added. “All are extremely satisfied with its performance and handling characteristics.”

The announcement of the second 6X first flight comes as Dassault is set to unveil its next Falcon model on May 6.