Dassault’s Falcon 6X completes cold weather testing

The Falcon 6X has completed cold weather testing and remains on course for certification, expected later this year.

The test team, made up of technicians and pilots from Dassault Aviation and Pratt & Whitney Canada, endured “bone-chilling temperatures” (as low as -37°C (-35°F)) during the trial runs in Iqaluit, in the far north of Canada.

“The Falcon 6X continues to impress us with its performance and reliability as we move through the certification process,” said Carlos Brana, Dassault Aviation, executive vice president, Civil Aircraft.

“The aircraft operated flawlessly at the extreme temperatures an aircraft can be subjected to in the severest climate conditions. That includes engines, systems and low-temperature maintainability requirements,” he added.

During the Arctic ground test campaign, the aircraft was cold soaked for three successive nights and subjected to different start sequences each morning. The 6X was then powered up for engine ground runs and high-speed taxi tests.

Ground tests were followed by a flight to test anti-icing systems, handling qualities and the stability of fuel and hydraulic fluid temperatures. All whilst the aircraft remained in a holding pattern flown at 10,000ft (3,300m).

The 6X endured a total of 50 hours of Arctic cold tests and has now accumulated some 650 flight hours and completed over 220 flights.