Dassault rolled out its first completed 6X business jet during a virtual ceremony at its hangar in France on Dec. 8, 2020. (Dassault Falcon)
During a Dec. 8 virtual event broadcast from its Merignac hangar in Bordaux, France, Dassault Aviation rolled out the first completed Falcon 6X business jet, which the airframe manufacturer claims are the first in its class to feature a head-up display (HUD) that combines synthetic vision and enhanced vision system technologies.
Dassault expects to complete the first flight of the new 6X early this year, with entry-into-service planned for 2022. At a cruise speed of Mach 0.80, the 6X will fly a maximum range of 5,500 nm, allowing it to fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Geneva.
“The Falcon 6X presents a major step forward for large-cabin business jet operators,” Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, said during the rollout event. “Its award winning-cabin, the tallest and widest in business aviation, provides levels of spaciousness, comfort, productivity, and safety that will set a new benchmark in the long-range segment.”
The 6X will feature the same digital flight control system included on other Falcon jets recently introduced by Dassault, anchored by Honeywell’s EASy avionics cockpit suite. Also featured in the cockpit will be two head-up displays featuring the Combined Vision System (CVS), dubbed the “FalconEye” by Dassault.
Dassault’s FalconEye uses Combined Vision System technology on two head-up displays in the 6X cockpit. (Dassault Falcon)
The company believes pilots can use the overlay of synthetic imagery and information about the external flight environment over the view provided by the EFVS’s infrared camera can help pilots to identify runways sooner, access more airports, and see through nearly any type of severe weather situation. It uses the synthetic database-driven terrain mapping and enhanced thermal and low-light camera images at the same time and also allows pilots to adjust the split between synthetic or enhanced vision, or both.
FalconEye made its debut on the Falcon 2000LXS/S and the 900LX in October 2016. A further enhancement for the FalconEye to be featured on the 6X is regulatory approval it will provide for pilots to fly a full approach and land without using natural vision to see the runway.
“The thing that’s much different on the Falcon 6X is the width of the aircraft, it’s much bigger so we have a much larger cockpit,” Tom Valette, a test pilot for Dassault said during the 6X rollout event.
Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW800 engines, the 6X sports a 5,500 nm range and a top speed of Mach 0.9, according to Dassault. The 16-passenger cabin is the largest Falcon has produced and comes in three layout options. Dassault expects the 6X to be ready for entry into service next year.