Dassault Aviation's flagship ultra-long range Falcon 8X has successfully completed its first flight a little more than one month after rollout.

With test pilots Eric Gérard and Hervé Laverne at the controls, aircraft s/n 01 lifted off from Dassault Aviation's Mérignac plant near Bordeaux and levelled off at 5,000 ft, raising its landing gear before beginning flight handling manoeuvres and system tests at 15,000 ft. It later climbed to FL400 (12,000 m) and accelerated to Mach 0.80. The aircraft subsequently descended to 5,000 ft for approach and landing, one hour and 45 minutes after take-off.

“Throughout the flight, the Falcon 8X demonstrated excellent handling qualities, the hallmark of all Dassault Aviation aircraft,” says Gérard. “We reached each of the performance objectives set for the first mission and, in a few cases, surpassed target goals. I am confident that the remainder of the flight test programme will proceed just as smoothly, and feel extremely honoured to fly such a handsome and well-engineered aircraft.”

Dassault chairman and ceo Eric Trappier adds: “We are right on target for mid-2016 certification and second half 2016 deliveries. The latest Falcon has been well received in the marketplace and already shows every sign of being a commercial and technical success. I congratulate the pilots, engineers, technicians and line workers, both at Dassault Aviation and at our numerous industrial partners and subcontractor facilities for their contributions in getting the 8X off to such a great start.”

Falcon 8X s/n 02 and 03 are scheduled to take to the air in the coming months. Each will take part in the flight test programme. Serial number three will leave mid-year for the Dassault Aviation completion facility in Arkansas, where it will be fitted with a complete interior and undergo a stringent system test campaign. You can read about Empire Aviation Group, one of the first customers of the 8X, on page 4.