Dassault Falcon 900LX flight test program enters into its last phase; begins completions on first customer aircraft

Dassault's Falcon 900LX has entered the last phases of the flight test and certification program while completions on the first two customer aircraft have begun. Final certification is anticipated during the third quarter of 2010 with deliveries starting thereafter.

The flight test program, which began in October of 2009, has accumulated 180 flight hours over 72 flights. Handling qualities of the airplane, take-off and landing performance, stalls at various speed configurations, flights in icing conditions, maximum operating speed, as well as simulated system failures have been tested extensively in addition to aircraft fuel consumption. The aircraft performed as expected and confirmed reductions in drag and higher climb performance over the Falcon 900EX EASy which it will replace.

More than half of the certification flights have been performed to date with EASA certification pilots. Crosswind trials are planned in the next few weeks.

The 4,750 nm Falcon 900LX is built on the Falcon 900EX EASy platform and includes a pair of High-Mach Blended Winglets designed by Aviation Partners Inc. The wing aerodynamic improvement will help reduce aircraft drag as much as 5% offering corresponding range and efficiency improvements. Time to climb to cruise altitude will also be reduced by 10%. As a consequence, the Falcon 900LX is as much as 50% to 60% more efficient than other airplanes in its class.

"Our thorough flight test program has demonstrated the improved efficiencies of the Falcon 900LX," said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. "Falcon 900LX operators will be confident in the fact that they operate the most efficient airplane in its class. It burns less fuel and creates fewer emissions. That's a very positive message in today's closely scrutinized business world."

The Falcon 900LX can connect a wide variety of commonly used cities, including New York with Moscow, Paris with Beijing, Washington with Sao Paulo, Dubai with Tokyo and Caracas with Geneva.