Dassault Aviation has welcomed the first production Falcon 6X extra widebody twin to its Falcon completion centre at Little Rock, Arkansas.
Falcon 6X serial number five flew on 28 January from Dassault Aviation’s Merignac initial assembly facility to the Little Rock facility, landing at approximately 13:00.
“The arrival of the first Falcon 6X at Little Rock marks a very positive milestone in this programme,” said Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation’s Chairman and CEO. “Our teams have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare for 6X completion and we are benefiting from very good momentum as we move towards certification.”
The first Falcon 6X is expected to enter into service later this year and Dassault says its teams in Little Rock have been preparing for months for the arrival of the first aircraft with new engineering solutions that aim to accelerate the completion and delivery cycle.
Dassault’s Falcon 6X technical response team has performed robustness and cycle testing on equipment and components in preparation, with engineers designing processes that will allow “one shot installation” on interiors, further reducing completion time.
Advanced digital technologies to streamline completion activity include a dedicated “virtual plateau” that can display any system or component on the aircraft using Dassault Systèmes’ 3D CATIA design, and product lifecycle management software that helps teams visualise and plan for the most efficient approach to each aircraft completion.
Dassault Aviation says that three Falcon 6X aircraft are currently involved in its rigorous flight test programme, including one that is undergoing extreme weather and endurance testing.
The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D engine powering the aircraft type recently received Transport Canada certification and EASA and FAA certifications are also expected to follow shortly.
A fourth aircraft equipped with a full interior will fly at the end of the first quarter and will be demonstrating the full maturity of aircraft systems at entry into service during a campaign that sees Falcon 6X fly to several destinations around the world.
