Dassault has announced that it now holds over 40 deposits for the newly dubbed Falcon ‘7X’, after initially garnering 20 at the June 2001 Paris Air Show. “The strong order response fully validates our choice of key parameters for the aircraft,” said Dassault ceo, Charles Edelstenne. The orders are split almost evenly between the US and customers outside of the US. The first flight of the Falcon 7X is scheduled for early 2005.

Arnaud Poisson of French operator Air Entreprise told EBAN: “With a longer range than the 900EX, it will be good competition for the GV and Global Express.

“I also think it will compare favourably against the BBJ and ACJ. Obviously it’s not comparable

to these aircraft in size but it will be competitive because of its perfor-mance, the DOC, and of course because it’s going to be less expensive.”

Air Entreprise has on its books both managed and company-owned aircraft. Asked whether any of the company’s owners had shown an interest in buying the 7X so far, Poisson said: “None so far but I think they need to learn more about the aircraft and to see the first one flying. We’d certainly help our clients buy one if they wanted to.

“With the new international regulations for the airlines company and especially for the pilots, it’s better for us to continue with Dassault aircraft because most of our fleet are Dassault aircraft. I would advise a client to buy a Falcon ahead of a GV because it is so much easier for us to operate and maintain. But if one of my clients wanted to buy a GV, I would of course adapt our company for such an aircraft.”

Having initially been unveiled as the ‘FNX’, the name Falcon 7X was announced as the aircraft’s new name at a press conference at the company’s Teterboro headquarters. John Rosanvallon, president of Dassault Falcon Jet, said: “At first we looked at giving the aircraft a name other than Falcon. But the word ‘Falcon’ is such a powerful name in and of itself, we decided a second name might dilute our brand.” Having already used double, triple and quadruple numbers (including the Falcon 10, 200 and 2000), the company felt that a single digit held the most promise. “In the end, the simplicity of a single digit became seductive,” said Rosanvallon.

“Two of the primary goals behind the Falcon 7X were to enhance reliability and lower the cost of operation,” explained Jean-Francois Georges, senior vice president for civil aircraft, Dassault Aviation. The company said that a major part of the 7X will be manufactured in-house, although Pratt and Whitney Canada will provide the engine, a PW307A. Honeywell has been selected to equip the aircraft with components including the Primus Epic platform for Dassault’s EASy flight deck. Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation of Akron, Ohio, has been selected to design, develop and manufacture the main wheels, carbon brakes, nose wheel and brake control systems for the Falcon 7X. TRW Aeronautical Systems (Lucas Aerospace) will supply the hydro-mechanical flap and air brake systems for the Falcon 7X.