Dassault Aviation Unveils Falcon 5X, New Advanced-Technology, Long-Range Business Jet

AsiaNet 54726

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 22, 2013 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    New aircraft embodies advances in design, flight control technology and

fuel efficiency

    Dassault Aviation today unveiled its biggest and most advanced Falcon jet.

The Falcon 5X is a new-generation business jet with new a flight control

system, new aerodynamics and other advanced technologies, many pioneered in

Dassault's military programs.

    To view the multimedia news release, please click:

    http://www.multivu.com/players/English/51360-falcon5xpressroom/

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120925/564526-a )

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131022/647153 )

    "The Falcon 5X is the new benchmark for the creative use of advanced

technology in business aviation," said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of

Dassault Aviation. "Using design and manufacturing software and systems

pioneered by Dassault, we have been able to build a larger, more comfortable

and more capable aircraft that is also more environmentally friendly and much

more economical to operate compared to other airplanes in its class."

    "The Falcon 5X represents our biggest investment since the beginning of the

Falcon programs," said Trappier. "It demonstrates our commitment to maintaining

the technology leadership that we have displayed in this market since our first

business jet flew fifty years ago."

    Unveiled in Las Vegas at the National Business Aviation Association's

annual convention, the company hailed the Falcon 5X as an industry

breakthrough, offering the largest cabin cross section of any purpose-built

business jet and fuel efficiency as much as 50 percent better than competing

aircraft.

    The Falcon 5X represents an important addition to the Falcon product line,

expanding its offering in the large-cabin segment. The new jet has a cabin

height of six feet, six inches (1.98 m), an important consideration for

passenger comfort on flights of 10 or 11 hours' duration. The 16-passenger

aircraft has a range of 5,200 nautical miles (9,630 km), connecting Los Angeles

with London, Sao Paulo with Chicago, Johannesburg with Geneva or Paris with

Beijing.

    Functionality and modern style blend in the cabin. The company conducted

extensive research into new cabin technology and styling techniques that will

greatly enhance passengers' sense of spaciousness and comfort.

    The new aircraft's digital flight control system represents a major advance

in making aircraft control more precise, easier and safer. The system

integrates all moving control surfaces for the first time, including an

additional control surface called a 'flaperon', that allows steep approaches at

slow and safe speeds. It also integrates nose wheel steering for safer runway

handling in strong crosswind conditions and on wet or slick runways. Dassault

Aviation is a leader in digital flight control technology having pioneered it

on fighters four decades ago and having introduced the first business jet with

digital flight controls, the Falcon 7X, in 2007.

    Honeywell will provide the 5X with a new generation of the Falcon series'

EASy all-digital cockpit, as well as its most advanced radar, capable of

detecting turbulence at greater distances than current models.

    The cockpit will feature the industry's most advanced "head-up display"

technology, provided by Elbit Systems. The new HUD will combine "enhanced

vision" and "synthetic vision" for unsurpassed situational awareness, even in

total darkness, fog or dense haze. Enhanced vision uses infrared sensors to

display terrain in darkness and reduced visibility. Synthetic vision uses a

global terrain database for the same purpose. In the 5X, they will be combined

for the first time on the head-up display providing a high fidelity view of the

outside world even when actual visibility is zero.

    The aircraft will be powered by new-generation Silvercrest engines from

Safran Snecma, the French-based engine maker and 50-percent partner with

General Electric in CFM, which builds the world's best selling jet engine, the

CFM56.

    "The Silvercrest engine is 15 percent more fuel efficient than other

engines in its power class; Emissions are dramatically lower than current

standards, and the engine is remarkably quiet," said Trappier. Dassault

Aviation and Snecma worked closely to marry the aircraft and the engine for

optimum efficiency and performance. The companies have a long history of close

collaboration, Trappier noted. Snecma provides the M88 engines for the

supersonic Rafale fighter.

    Both aircraft and engines will have the industry's most advanced real-time

self-diagnosis onboard maintenance system. These computerized monitoring

systems report service issues immediately to ground-based service hubs, so

maintenance teams can begin to respond while the aircraft is still in the air.

Snecma's ForeVision(TM) health monitoring system, which equips the Silvercrest,

can forecast when maintenance will be required several flights or even hundreds

of flight hours in advance, making scheduling easier and ensuring availability

of the aircraft when it is needed.

    Falcon 5X airframe structures are already in production at several Dassault

sites in France and at suppliers' plants. New, more automated manufacturing

technologies and streamlined production processes will reduce parts count and

aircraft weight, and speed the assembly process.  

    To be priced at about $45 million in 2013 dollars, the Falcon 5X is

expected to make its first flight in the first quarter of 2015 and to achieve

certification before the end of 2016.  

    Note for the Editors

    Dassault Falcon is the recognized global brand for Dassault business jets

which are designed, manufactured and supported by Dassault Aviation and

Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.

    About Dassault Aviation

    Dassault Aviation is a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 80

countries across five continents. It produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as

the complete line of Falcon. The company employs a workforce of over 11,000 and

has assembly and production plants in both France and the United States and

service facilities around the globe. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20

in 1963, over 2,250 Falcon jets have been delivered. The family of Falcon jets

currently in production includes the tri-jets-the Falcon 900LX and the 7X-as

well as the twin-engine 2000LXS and Falcon 2000S.

    About Dassault Falcon Jet

    Dassault Falcon Jet Corp., is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Dassault

Aviation, France.  Dassault Falcon Jet markets and supports the Falcon family

of business jets throughout North America, South America and the Pacific Rim

countries of Asia, including the People's Republic of China.

    Follow us on Twitter @DassaultFalcon

    Photos

    Hi Res Photos at: falconphotogallery.com

    Press Contacts

    Dassault Aviation (Saint-Cloud, France)

    Vadim Feldzer Tel. +33-1-47-11-44-13                   

    Marie-Alexandrine Fouillard Tel. +33-1-47-11-64-23

    Dassault Falcon Jet (Teterboro Airport, USA)

    Andrew Ponzoni Tel. +1-201-541-45-88              

    Grant Kielczewski Tel. +1-201-541-46-79

    SOURCE: Dassault Aviation