Dassault's Falcon 8X enters final stages of flight test and certification campaign

Dassault Aviation’s new flagship, the Falcon 8X, is entering the final stages of its flight test and certification program as work proceeds to prepare the ultra-long range trijet for initial delivery. FAA and EASA certification of the 6,450 nm/11,945 km 8X is expected by midyear and entry into service by late summer. The three aircraft in the flight test program have nearly completed all certification test requirements, and to date have accumulated over 650 flight hours in 325 flights.
After undergoing thermal, acoustic and cabin amenity testing at the Little Rock Completion Center, s/n 03, the first 8X equipped with a fully fitted interior, returned to the Istres Flight Test Center near Marseille earlier this month to prepare for cold soak trials. Intended to demonstrate aircraft system functionality under extreme weather conditions, the soak trial campaign was conducted at Ranken Inlet, Nunavut, on the northwestern shore of Canada’s Hudson Bay, from March 9-11. All systems, including avionics, electrical, hydraulic and digital flight control systems, performed flawlessly during the tests despite temperatures that dipped as low as -27° F (-33° C). All cabin systems were successfully tested on ground after APU startup and cabin warm up. Full capability under extreme cold conditions was also demonstrated in flight at the end of the campaign.