Unveiled in May 2014 at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), the latest addition to the growing Falcon business jet family rolled out on December 17th. It offers the greatest range and the longest cabin in the Falcon line along with the most extensive selection of cabin configurations available on any business jet.
With eight passengers and three crew, the 8X will be capable of flying 6,450 nm (11,945 km) at M.80. The aircraft will come with a an impressive list of innovative onboard systems largely proven on the existing top of the line 7X, including an enhanced version of the 7X's Digital Flight Control System and a redesigned cockpit featuring an optional combined synthetic/enhanced vision head-up display.
Like the 7X, the Falcon 8X will be capable of approaches up to 6 degrees, allowing it to serve challenging airports such as London City Airport and Lugano, Switzerland, that are normally not accessible to large cabin aircraft. The aircraft will have a balanced field length of about 6,000 ft and an approach speed at typical landing weight of 107 kts.
Wing mating and engine installation on the first Falcon 8X were completed in July and first power up occurred shortly after. Ground tests, including flight control system testing, vibration tests and fuel system testing, concluded in November and the first engine run up took place in early December.
