Dassault’s Falcon 5X Enters Ground Test Phase

October 19, 2014 (Orlando, Florida): Dassault’s brand new Falcon 5X has entered the ground testing
phase following power up of the first aircraft at the end of August. First flight is expected by the second
quarter of next year and certification by the end of 2016.
The fuselage for the first aircraft arrived at Dassault’s main assembly plant in Mérignac, near Bordeaux, in
June and received its wings, new Snecma Silvercrest engines and onboard systems during the summer.
The initial ground tests covered electrical and fuel system, hydraulics, and testing of the Falcon 5X’s
advanced digital flight controls. All tests went as expected. Ground vibration testing will start later this
month.
“We are extremely pleased with the way the program is advancing, and are fully on schedule for a second
quarter 2015 first flight,” said Olivier Villa, Senior Vice President, Civil Aircraft, Dassault Aviation. “Wing
mating and other operations were completed in a single step without need for rework, using our latest
Product Lifecycle Management digital modeling methods. Development has also benefited from the use of
our new FalconScan tool, developed for onboard fault diagnosis, which we have employed to facilitate
ground testing.”
Assembly teams are currently installing final onboard test equipment on aircraft number one in anticipation
of an initial engine run-up by year end and the commencement of taxi tests shortly thereafter. Final
fuselage outfitting of aircraft number two is set to begin in November and work on the subsequent units
will follow at one aircraft per month.
Snecma Silvercrest engine testing progressing
The development program for the new Silvercrest high-bypass engine is proceeding as planned, with
eight power plants involved in the engine test and certification campaign. The engine has accumulated
1,300 hours on the bench to date. SNECMA commenced the engine flight test campaign in June using a
dedicated flying test bed. “The engines have demonstrated nominal and max take-off thrust levels and
shown very satisfactory operability and dynamic behavior,” said Olivier Villa.
Airframe and systems testing underway
Meanwhile, Dassault engineers are proceeding with avionics and flight control testing on the integration
test benches at Dassault Aviation flight test center in Istres and on the global simulation bench at Dassault
Aviation headquarters in Saint-Cloud. This test bench replicates the Flight Control System and the
Hydraulic System.
Preparations are also underway for Falcon 5X airframe static and fatigue testing. The fatigue test article
was delivered to DGA-Ta (former CEAT) in Toulouse, France earlier this month and testing is due to begin
in January.Press Release
Dassault Aviation – 78, quai Marcel Dassault – 92552 Saint-Cloud Cedex 300 – France – Tel: +33 1 47 11 40 00 – Fax: +33 1 47 11 87 40
Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. – Teterboro Airport – Box 2000 – South Hackensack, NJ 07606 – USA – Tel: +1 201 440 6700 – Fax: +1204 541 46 19
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In addition to the standard qualification tests, aircraft equipment will be subjected to a pair of efficient
endurance testing methods – the Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) and Highly Accelerated Stress
Screening (HASS). These additional tests are part of a comprehensive effort to ensure that the 5X is fully
mature by delivery of the first aircraft. The testing will expose equipment and systems to extremes of
vibration, humidity, temperature, pressure and other in-flight phenomena exceeding those that the aircraft
will be subjected to in service.
The Falcon 5X benefits from production improvements such as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
software that permits the aircraft to be designed, built and supported using a single set of computer
modeling data that is shared by Dassault and all suppliers and subcontractors involved in the project. The
program uses the latest iteration of PLM, Version 6, which extends PLM functionalities to the system level,
streamlining and accelerating the design and testing process.
Notes for Editors
Dassault Falcon is the recognized global brand for Dassault business jets which are designed,
manufactured and supported by Dassault Aviation and Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.
About Dassault Aviation
Dassault Aviation is a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 80 countries across five
continents. It produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as the complete line of Falcons. The company
employs a workforce of over 11,000 and has assembly and production plants in both France and the
United States and service facilities around the globe. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, over
2,250 Falcon jets have been delivered. Dassault offers a range of six business jets from the twin-engine
3,350 nm large-cabin Falcon 2000S to its new flagship, the tri-engine 6,450 nm ultra-long-range
Falcon 8X.
About Dassault Falcon Jet
Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, France. Dassault
Falcon Jet markets and supports the Falcon family of business jets throughout North America, South
America and the Pacific Rim countries of Asia, including the People’s Republic of China.

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