Dassault unveils Falcon 10X to target ultra-long-range market

Dassault Aviation has unveiled its new Falcon 10X, with a 7,500-nm range and a cabin cross section larger than some regional jets, to target the ultra-long-range business jet market.

Expected to enter service in 2025, the Falcon 10X will compete directly with the Bombardier Global 7500 and Gulfstream G700 for long-range customers. The new aircraft will be capable of a top speed of Mach 0.925 and fly nonstop from New York to Shanghai, Los Angeles to Sydney, Hong Kong to New York or Paris to Santiago.

“Today we are introducing a new benchmark in business aviation,” said Dassault chairman and CEO Eric Trappier during the virtual launch event at Le Bourget airport in Paris today (May 6th). “The 10X will offer an unrivalled passenger experience over both short- and long-duration flights, along with breakthrough safety features derived from frontline fighter technology. We have optimised every aspect of the aircraft with the passenger in mind and established a new level of capability for ultra-long-range aircraft.”

New features of the Falcon 10X include: the new Pearl 10X engine, a new wing design, modular cabin, new fuselage and updated avionics.

Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X turbofans

Thrust will be provided by a by a pair of new Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X turbofans. The engines feature the Advance2 engine core combined with a high-performance, low-pressure system, delivering thrust of more than 18,000lb. Compared with Rolls-Royce’s last generation of business aviation engines, the Pearl 10X is claimed to offer 5% higher efficiency, while delivering outstanding low noise and emissions performance. key to the engine design is a bladed-disk, known as a blisk fan design, fitted to a 10-stage compressor with six stages of blisks. The Rolls-Royce engines, the first supplied to Dassault, will be capable of running on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

New high-speed wing

Drawing on experience gained in produced the wings of Dassault’s fighter aircraft, the Falcon 10X high-speed wing will be made of carbon fibre composites for maximum strength, reduced weight and minimum drag. “Tailored for speed and efficiency, the very-high aspect ratio wing will be equipped with advanced, retractable high-lift devices offering superior manoeuvrability at low approach speeds,” according to the company.

Cabin modularity

The 10X is claimed to offer the biggest and most comfortable cabin on the market and greater modularity than any other aircraft in its class, with a selection of multiple interior configurations. The cabin will be 6ft, 8in (2.03m) tall and 9ft, 1in wide (2.77 m). The dimensions are said to make it almost 8in (20cm) wider and 2in (5cm) taller than the widest and tallest purpose-built competitor business jets.

The fuselage can accommodate four cabin zones of equal length but owners can configure their cabin to create a truly customised interior. Options include: an expanded dining/conference area, a dedicated entertainment area with a large-screen monitor, a private stateroom with a queen-size bed or an enlarged master suite with a private stand-up shower.

“The 10X will be more than just another big step forward in business aviation. It will be absolutely the best business jet available in the ultra-long-range category, and will remain so for a long time,” said Trappier.

Pressurisation is allow claimed to set a market record, with passengers experiencing a 3,000-ft cabin pressure altitude while flying at 41,000 ft. The filtration system will provide pure air and the aircraft will be at least as quiet as the Falcon 8X, currently the quietest business jet in service, according to the company.

The Falcon 10X will feature a new fuselage with 38 windows that are nearly 50%  larger than those on the Falcon 8X.

New avionics

The Falcon 10X’s flight deck will include touch screens throughout the cockpit and a Digital Flight Control System, derived directly from Dassault’s latest military technology. The design will include a new single-button recovery mode, capable of returning the aircraft to straight and level flight from any attitude. The primary power control will be a single smart throttle connecting both engines to the Digital Flight Control System which will automatically manage the power of each engine as needed in different flight patterns.

Also in the cockpit will be the company’s FalconEye combined vision system, which offers both enhanced and synthetic vision capabilities, and dual heads-up-displays to serve as primary flight displays. The technology will enable the 10X to operate in “essentially zero ceiling/visibility conditions”.

Trappier said: “We have set the bar for our new Falcon incredibly high,” said. “But I can confidently say that we have put this aircraft at the top of the market.”

Dassault Falcon 10X – at a glance

• -Range 7,500-nm range to target the ultra-long-range market
• -Predicted to enter service in 2025
• -Top speed of Mach 0.925
• -Powered by new Pearl 10X engine delivering thrust of more than 18,000lb, with 5% higher efficiency
• -High-speed wing made of carbon fibre composites
• -Cabin will be 6ft, 8in (2.03m) tall and 9ft, 1in wide (2.77 m)
• -Four modular cabin zones of equal length, which can be customised
• -3,000ft cabin pressure altitude while flying at 41,000ft.
• -Flight deck to include touch screens and a Digital Flight Control System
• -Primary power control provided by a single smart throttle connecting both engines to the Digital Flight Control     System
• -FalconEye combined vision system and dual heads-up-displays.

Above: The 10X is said to offer the biggest and most comfortable cabin on the market.

Below: The Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X turbofan can deliver more than 18,000lb of thrust.