Deity of the Sky
[dropcap text_color=”” background_color=“”]A[/dropcap] distinguished heritage
Dassault is a name long held in great esteem in the aviation industry. It has a distinguished and fascinating history, having been started by a young boy called Marcel Bloch (later Dassault) who would decide – at just 17 years old – that he wanted to dedicate his life to aviation after witnessing a Wright biplane fly.
By 1915, when he was just 22, he produced his first aviation product— the Eclair Propeller. By 1931, Bloch was designing long-distance trimotors for airmail transport and even branched out into motors for long-distance passenger transport. By 1932 he was producing motors for long-distance medical evacuations. The following decade would see Marcel Bloch deported from France (for refusing to build German war planes) to Buchenwald where he would nearly die of diphtheria, only to return at the end of World War II to his largely untouched manufacturing plants where he would continue to innovate and design new aircraft that would change the way the world would travel.
Although almost specialising in fighter jets at this stage, the father of the Falcon 7x business jet was developed in 1963 in the form of the Mystère 20. Of course things have moved on from there, rather substantially in fact, but the underlying culture of innovation and commitment to great aviation can still be found in the newer, sexier Falcon series.
[title size=”3″ padding_bottom=”10″]The Falcon [/title]
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Popular Mechanics called the 7X the “Business jet that thinks it’s a racing plane”, after seeing its exquisite speed and manoeuvrability at the National Championship Air Races in Reno in the United States in October 2015. It’s certainly fast, with a top speed of 488 knots (TAS), and there is no doubt that the technology is singularly advanced for a business jet, with much of the learning gained in the military and fighter jet production (which formed the backbone of the Dassault company in the preceding decades) being applied to the Falcon to make it one of the most advanced in its class. [/fullwidth]
The Falcon 7X is an ode to technical innovation. Its sleek design could possibly delude one into thinking that it’s all prom-dress pretty with no substance, but this aircraft is all about power. The three engines deliver 6,400lbs of thrust each, are built by industry greats Pratt & Whitney Canada and provide both short-term power (for smaller airport runways with minimal take off space) as well as the stamina to travel non-stop distances of up to 11,000km.
It’s also the first business jet to have a digital flight control system, taken directly from Dassault’s jet fighter range, allowing pilots almost unprecedented control over their aircraft as they can be in direct contact with their controls. This allows for a precision that we have yet to see in any other business jet. This digital flight control system (DFCS), as Dassault calls it, may be completely digital as opposed to analogue but it operates on the same basis, making this the supercar of business jets for those lucky enough to pilot one. It has the added bonus of autocorrecting the aircraft should it come upon turbulence or gusts of wind, and this combined with the flexible and slightly longer high transonic wing, means that this is possibly the smoothest ride any passenger could hope for when journeying from one distant land to another.
Talking of comfort, the Dassault team have paid just as much attention to the cabin as they have to the technology. Both 1.88m of headroom and a maximum width of 2.34m allow for a more comfortable journey, and when purchasing this aircraft the Dassault team will work with their clients to ensure the correct cabin configuration (there are three “lounge” areas and these can be configured into sleeping quarters or even private areas), as well as choosing the most pleasing finishes made from the best quality products.
The Dassault team have designed the 7X for maximum fuel efficiency (with possibly only the fighter jet in their range more sleek) and have combined that with a much lower carbon emission total than the general business jet.
When you combine the technology, comfort, performance and even safety (think slower approaches and landings), it’s easy to see why those in the know choose the Falcon 7X. It is, after all, the supercar of aircraft travel.
[title size=”3″ padding_bottom=”10″]Key Features[/title]
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Digital Flight Control System
Automatically dampening turbulence, the DFCS is so advanced it allows pilots maximum responsiveness by responding to the smallest of movements, allowing for a precision that has not been possible previously.
High Transonic Wing
This new design improves mightily on the predecessor, allowing the 7X to fly at much higher altitude and Mach while using less fuel. It also allows for a slower and thus safer approach.
Fuselage and Wing Shaping
The advanced new design includes leading-edge slats and double slotted Fowler flaps for a smoother flight.
Engines
The 7X has enormous power for short take-off as well as stamina for long hauls. It’s also exceptionally quiet which is surprising considering there are three 6,400 pound thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307A turbofans. The three engines also allow for security over large tracts of water or desolate areas.
Cabin
Featuring three lounge areas, the cabin in the 7X features every possible luxury with an environmental system that provides an in-flight cabin altitude of 4,800ft even at 45,000ft. It also features an advanced “quieting of acoustics”.
Flight Deck
The flight deck on the Falcon 7x was developed using the Dassault jet fighter Man-to-Machine interface as its springboard. The EASy II is more intuitive and intelligent, allowing for greater situational awareness and responsiveness. It sets a new standard in business jet cockpits.
Enhanced Vision System
Improved safety margins, including when flying in bad weather such as fog, haze and snow, are the result of the Enhanced Vision System (EVS) utilised by the Falcon 7X.
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