Dassault Aviation has lifted the veil on its Falcon 5X. Presented at Dassault's Bordeaux-Merignac final assembly facility before an audience of 400 customers, operators, suppliers and certification authority representatives, the 5X will offer the largest cabin cross-section of any purpose built business jet, and with a range of 5,200 nm will make the majority of the world's desirable city pairs possible in one trip.

"The Falcon 5X was designed to answer operator demand for an aircraft in the 5,000 nm range that could provide more space and comfort than existing large body jets while combining the handling qualities, the low speed performance and operating economics which are the hallmark of Falcons," says chairman and ceo Eric Trappier. "Customers have already responded to the new aircraft with enthusiasm and we expect it to become every bit as popular as the 7X, the fastest selling Falcon we've ever built."

The first 5X was powered up and started system ground tests last autumn. It was joined by aircraft no. 2 earlier this year.

Testing on the global simulation bench, which replicates the 5X's main systems, is well advanced and the static and fatigue test campaign on a dedicated airframe has begun. The aircraft's maiden flight is anticipated before the end of the summer.