Formerly known as the Falcon SMS, Dassault Aviation’s next-generation Falcon 5X is an all-new twinjet with the largest cabin cross section and most advanced digital flight control system in the industry. It even has a skylight – an industry first. The 5,200 nm Falcon 5X is featuring a brand new wing and will be equipped with an enhanced version of the pioneering digital flight control system on the ultra-long range 7X, designed to command all flight controls surfaces, including slats and flaps.
It will be the first business jet fitted with flaperons – active deflection control surfaces that can act both as flaps, ailerons or airbrakes. The new jet has a cabin height of six feet, six inches(1.98 m), an important consideration for passenger comfort on flights of 10 or 11 hours’ duration. The 16 – passenger aircraft has a range of 5,200 nautical miles (9,630km), connecting Los Angeles with London, Sao Paulo with Chicago, Johannesburg with Geneva or Paris with Beijing.
The aircraft will be powered by new – generation Silvercrest engines from Safran Snecma, the French – based engine maker and 50 – percent partner with General Electric in CFM, which builds the world’s best selling jet engine, the CFM56.
To be priced at about $45 million, the Falcon 5X is expected to make its first flight in the first quarter of 2015 and to achieve certification before the end of 2016.
