How one metre sets the Dassault Falcon 8X apart from the 7X

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When looNing at the specifications of both the Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X, you’ll be hard pressed to find large, significant differences. ,n terms of external dimensions, both share similar wingspans and heights, while its internal dimensions are eTual in terms of cabin height, width and baggage volume.

here the biggest difference lies between the two planes is in its length. For the Dassault Falcon 7X, the plane has an external length of 23.38m, and an internal cabin length of 11. 1m, while the Dassault Falcon 8X has an external length of 24.46m, and an internal cabin length of 13m. ,n terms of dimensions, only one metre separates the two, but it is this metre that gives the Falcon 8X its agility, efficiency and uniTuely flexible cabin.

Cabin comfort

The extra one metre of space in the Dassault Falcon 8X enables operators to incorporate virtually any option passengers might wish for in an ultra-long-range business jet. There is enough room for 12 to 16 passengers, with a variety of options for worNing, dining, relaxing and sleeping.

This cabin space can be customised to create a spacious private 9,P stateroom at the rear of the aircraft, use the midspace cabin for a six-person conference configuration, and still have space left over for a third lounge. For those that regularly fly red eye flights, the plane can comfortably fit six lie-flat sleeping berths as well.

But it isn’t just passengers that benefit from this extra metre. The 13m-long cabin allows for an extra-long galley and a crew rest area. “The crew rest area is important because the 8X is an aircraft that can fly non-stop for 14 hours,” explained Didier Raynard, Director of 6ales for 6outheast Asia, Australasia and the Pacific. “The 7X can gave a galley and crew rest area as well, but it won’t be as large as the 8X, unless you decide to taNe some space from the main passenger cabin.”

The cabin has also been further improved on in terms of soundproofing. The Dassault Falcon 7X had long been the industry benchmarN in aircraft sound level, but that has changed with the 8X. By pacNing an acoustical insulation pacNage of noise-absorbing materials designed to be more effective and lighter in weight around where sound levels tend to be highest, the 8X now experiences a 2dB reduction in cabin sound – almost half the noise level experienced in the 7X.

Flying farther

The engineering marvels don’t just stop at the cabin. The extra-long fuselage means the aircraft can carry more fuel, and therefore, can have more range without compromising the versatility of its performance on short runways.

This is seen in the range of the Dassault Falcon 8X, which has a 6,450 nautical mile range, or 500 nautical miles more than the 7X. Although 500nm, or about the distance flying from 6ingapore to PhuNet, Thailand, isn’t very far, for customers

who are pressed for time when flying long ranges, the distance can be very significant. “The extra 500nm range on the 8X is very important to some customers, as it means you can fly non-stop from 6outheast Asia to parts of (urope, liNe reece and (astern (urope. For example, it is possible to fly non-stop from BangNoN or ong .ong to London on the 8X,” said Raynard.

This is the main difference in the clientele of the Dassault Falcon 8X and 7X. hile Raynard identified both as longrange aircrafts, those that are drawn to the 8X so far, have chosen the flagship jet of Dassault for the time-saving extra 500nm the plane provides.

Cutting costs

The Dassault Falcon 8X doesn’t just save time, it saves money overall. The longer range was made possible by design innovations to stretch the 7X fuselage to accommodate more fuel without adding overall weight. This allowed the 8X to taNe on 1,360Ng more fuel, while Neeping the empty weight of the 8X nearly identical to that of the 7X.

Although the 8X carries more fuel, it is also 30 per cent more fuel efficient than any other aircraft in the ultra-long-range segment. The three enhanced Pratt hitney P 307D engines that power the jet also help boost fuel consumption by a further 2 per cent, while also providing higher thrust at 3 . 0N1, a 5 per cent thrust increase over the 7X.

Superior safety

Despite these small but significant differences, what is important is the flying experience of pilots on the Dassault Falcon 8X as well. The jet flies almost identical to the 7X, with a few Ney changes. For example, most 8X buyers would opt for the Falcon(ye combined vision system &96), the first ead-8p Display to blend synthetic, database-driven terrain imaging and real-world thermal and low-light camera images into a single view. here safety is of concern, such as in challenging weather conditions, this 8D provides an unprecedented level of situational awareness to pilots.

The Dassault Falcon 8X was also designed to have better taNe-off and landing 6T2L) capabilities than other aircrafts in its category. This is incredibly significant for the 8X, which is able to access challenging airports, such as those with extremely short runways see our side story on the coast-to-coast speed record mission for more). “[The 8X] has superior 6T2L capability because we maNe use of our expertise in aerodynamics and aerostructures to design an aircraft to have a light but strong airframe,” said Raynard.

The 8X’s ability to come to land very slowly is also another reason for the jet’s tremendous 6T2L capability, which at an approach speed of just 107 Nnots, is comparable to that of a turboprop. This is useful when landing on short runways, which are usually prominent in smaller airports favoured by ultra-high net worth individuals. For example, the London &ity airport, which is located just 30 minutes from the city centre, has a short runway that most large-cabin business jets cannot access, with the exception of the Dassault Falcon 8X and 7X.