TOP FLIGHT
Key points of the Dassault Falcon 8X
For many, owning or having access to a private jet really boils down to one thing – the convenience of it. Travelling means not having to rush to the airport, because, guess what? The plane will wait for you. Immigration queues? No such thing, because you’ll get VIP treatment anyway. Crowded predeparture areas? A thing of the past, given the opulence of many private jet terminals these days. Having a private jet means having access to an ecosystem that takes your preferences and conveniences as the number one priority.
But which business jet to choose though? While I concede that there are quite a few in the market that will, uhm, “spark joy”, to borrow a phrase from organisational wizard Marie Kondo, I have a soft spot for the Dassault Falcon 8X, the flagship plane of the French jet manufacturer.
Why do I love this plane? There are a lot of reasons, but they can all be summed up as such – it’s built to enhance your travel experience. It flies longer distances and has a long and spacious cabin.
High-tech specs
One of the aircraft’s key selling points is that it has a fast take-off and sharp entry and exit angles, which allows it to access shorter, less-accessible runways than many jets. For many owners, this is key, especially for those who conduct business in the Asia Pacific where runways might be shorter.
Add to this is its long 6,450 nautical mile (11,945km) range. The plane can pretty much take off and land anywhere you want, linking important city pairs all over the world. Because it has three Pratt & Whitney engines, the 8X can fly more direct routes than twin-engine jets that may need to fly within range of diversion airports in case of engine failure.
The powerful engines allow for long range, steep entry/exit angles as well as cruising altitude. The 8X can fly higher than commercial airlines at 15,500 metres, where it can go even faster and use less fuel due to the thinner air. This makes for a smoother flight, which is aided by its excellent power-to-weight ratio.
Another important feature for VVIPs: The jet is so private, Dassault claims it cannot be tracked only on websites like Flight Radar or by competitors, which means that passengers can go anywhere they want, virtually undetected.
Dassault Falcon prides itself on its military aviation background and has used military-derived technology to enhance the specs onboard the 8X. For instance, its Falcon Eye head-up display system (HUD) was originally developed for fighter jets and makes landing in poor visibility safer. The system uses six forward-facing cameras that can piece together an accurate image of the approaching terrain, which is especially crucial during nighttime landings or lowvisibility conditions such as fog.
Comfort is key
Of course, for passengers, while the technical innovations are important, the in-cabin comfort is even more so and here, the 8X delivers in spades.
With a cabin length of 13m (excluding cockpit and baggage area), this is the longest in the Dassault family of jets. The extra space can be used to advantage and can be customised according to owner specifications – the aircraft design team allows for over 30 possible layout configurations. It can even be customised with a shower if the owner wants one.
Noise and cabin altitude are low for passenger comfort. Even during takeoffs and landings, the noise suppression is topnotch, allowing passengers to converse in a normal manner. Cabin altitude is maintained at about 3,900ft while the aircraft is cruising at 41,000ft, which mitigates the tiredness passengers feel when flying long distances.
Onboard systems
On a long flight, there is only so much you can do, but the 8X’s cabin management system gives you control over your environment from anywhere in the cabin through your Apple devices. You can track flight progress through an app that has a virtual moving map of any area you are flying over by simply pointing your iPad in its direction. There is also Skybox, the wireless media server with its vast video and music library to keep you amused.