Dassault takes new flagship to the skies

With test pilots Eric Gérard and Hervé Laverne at the controls, aircraft 8X s/n 01 flew from Dassault Aviation’s Mérignac plant near Bordeaux for some 1:45 mins carrying out a number of manouevres..
“Throughout the flight, the Falcon 8X demonstrated excellent handling qualities,” said Gérard. “We reached each of the performance objectives set for the first mission and, in a few cases, surpassed target goals.”
Dassault Aviation Chairman/CEO Eric Trappier said: “We are right on target for mid-2016 certification and second half 2016 deliveries. The new Falcon has been well received in the market place and already shows every sign of being a commercial and technical success.” 
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 that is expected to last around 500 flight hours. 
Serial number three will leave midyear for the Dassault Aviation completion facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, where it will be fitted with a complete interior and undergo a stringent system test campaign.